A WORCESTER teenager who has spent time in a young offenders institute has got his life back on track through Worcester Warriors ‘HITZ’ rugby programme.
Joe Melfah left the institute with no qualifications, but after changing his attitude, he made an extraordinary U-turn and has gone on to recently win the ‘Young Achiever Award’ at a prestigious HITZ ceremony in London.
The 19-year-old was facing a bleak future, but after joining the programme, Joe used rugby to increase resilience, self-reliance and confidence.
The HITZ Young Achiever Award – run in partnership with Barclays, Comic Relief, Land Rover and Wooden Spoon – recognises and rewards a young person who, by overcoming a range of challenges, has worked the hardest to progress on their journey back to education, training or employment.
Joe is now working full time and has gained the GCSEs required to apply for an apprenticeship. He will soon begin working towards becoming a fully qualified engineer.
“Without HITZ, I think I’d be back in the institute,” he said.
“I didn’t know what to do when I came out. I didn’t know I had a career ahead of me, but now I do. rugby motivated me.
“Barclays came in to help me with money skills, and I’ve gained interview skills and learnt how to be part of a team.
“I wasn’t motivated to do anything and now I can apply for new jobs and take on extended learning.
“I needed to get my GCSEs and now I’ve got them, so I can apply for any apprenticeship I want to. Coming from where I did to where I am now has made me think I can actually do what I want to in life.
“If I focus on something I can get there,” he added.
Stuart Brooks, Worcester Warriors HITZ officer said: “Joe has proved a special individual after blossoming in the programme. With his background, he was a bit unsure about the environment he was coming into, but he’s come in and it opened up straight away.
“He knew he needed a change and he knew where he wanted to go.
“He’s taken himself out of an environment where he was causing trouble, and employers can now look at Joe and see he’s a responsible young man. He knows he’s made mistakes, but he’s changed and can now offer something back to the community.”
