The Organisation

School of Hard Knocks (SoHK) uses touch rugby to help young people improve their wellbeing. Our philosophy is to create a fun and safe environment that offers emotional support and physical challenges to develop learners’ inner resources so that they grow in their ability to self-assess, manage their emotions, and make better life choices.

The SoHK Schools programme is a 1-year intervention, working with groups of around 30 pupils in grade 9, in schools based predominantly in the CBD of Cape Town. We offer weekly life skills training through touch rugby coaching and mentoring.

The Role

As a SoHK intern Coach, you will be part of the team responsible for our frontline delivery. Reporting to your Team Leader, you will focus on delivering our award-winning life skills curriculum and mentoring young people, and will also have responsibilities within SoHK, designed to help the organisation grow.

You will receive comprehensive training in trauma-informed mentoring and will be required to complete additional courses as part of your contract, including a first aid course.

The internship will last for 1 year, with opportunities for intern Coaches to take more senior roles within SoHK in 2025 and beyond, based on performance and the organisation’s growth.

Requirements

●       Grade 12

●       Proficient in spoken and verbal English skills

●       Demonstrated passion for sport and mental health

●       Eligible to work in South Africa

●       18-25yrs old

●       For safeguarding reasons, a clear criminal record

●       Must be willing and able to travel to Cape Town CBD most days of the week

●       Experience in youth development is advantageous

●       You will need a growth mindset, always ready to accept new challenges and feedback

Rate of Pay

From R5000 per month

Hours

20-24 hours p/week

Closing date

23 October 2023

Interested?

If you’d like to apply for this position please fill in the Form at this link:

I'd like to apply for the SoHK Coach Position

The School of Hard Knocks (SoHK) uses sports to help young people improve their emotional well-being. We aim to create a fun and safe environment that offers emotional support and physical challenges that develop our participants’ inner resources, helping them to better deal with the consequences of trauma, with an enhanced ability to self-assess, manage their emotions, and make better life choices. 

Vacancy: Safeguarding Lead  

As Safeguarding Lead, you’ll join our mission to provide trauma-informed mental health services to children and youth living in under-resourced communities who participate in our programmes.  

You will also: 

• Oversee community participation - engage with coaches, parents and schools to strengthen their understanding of the SoHK service, which children they should refer and to improve community knowledge and understanding of mental health challenges and safeguarding procedures. 

• Oversee community Mapping - develop a network of community partners/services, including social workers, NGO’s other state services to refer children and vulnerable adults (including SoHK coaches). 

• Conduct and manage safeguarding follow up – Session visits and referral follow ups, including coordinating with other agencies. Support Team Leaders to implement session safeguarding. Keep accurate records of the progress of each case number (updating safeguarding register) and reporting back to the rest of the safeguarding team in meetings/ad hoc where necessary 

• Mentor and supervise SoHK Coaches – deliver safeguarding and mental wellbeing workshops and training to SoHK coaches.  

• Manage visitors and funder visits   

SoHK is a growing organisation and, as such, the role of Safeguarding Lead requires a degree of flexibility and competence across a number of areas. Your role will focus on the areas specified above, but you will be expected to accommodate new challenges and responsibilities as they arise. Working hours will be capped at 45 hours per week, but these hours may need to be flexible, and based on priority cases and participant needs. 

As Safeguarding Lead, you will report to our Chief Operating Officer, and will work alongside our Team Leaders and other members of our Safeguarding Team to ensure that SoHK implements strong child safeguarding processes that will drive learning and accountability in the organisation. 

Who you are: 

• You have a relevant university degree (education, social work, psychology, etc.) 

• You have at least 5-years of direct experience working with South African young people (15-25 year olds) and/or working in the safeguarding or protection of children or young people.  

• You have experience running youth programmes related to mental wellbeing, or an understanding of these programmes. 

• You have experience in case management and responding to safeguarding concerns relating young people. 

• You have excellent interpersonal skills to build and maintain meaningful relationships with young people and organisations. 

• Ability to be flexible within a fast-paced, changing environment. 

This role is being recruited on a 12-month contract basis with possible extension 

Closing date for applications: 30 September 2023  

Starting date: January 2023  (negotiable, earlier would be better)

Job Types: Full-time, Contract  

Contract length: 12 months  

Salary: From R20,000.00 per month 

Interested?

If you’d like to apply for this position please fill in the Form at this link:

CLICK HERE TO APPLY. YOU WILL NEED TO SUBMIT A CV AND MOTIVATION LETTER

If you have any questions, please email us at info@schoolofhardknocks.co.za

Have a look at our 2-page midyear report to see what we have been up to!

It’s been a very busy start to 2023. We enrolled more learners into our SoHK for Schools programme, added two new schools, so needed to double our coaching staff! We grew the NextGenMen (NGM) programme, reaching many more men and boys and also partnered with lots of other organisations to run NGM themselves! PLUS, we launched the NxtGenWomen programme!

Read the report HERE

In a remarkable display of support and athletic prowess, Jon Hunter-Parsonage, our CEO, completed the 87km Comrades Marathon and raised an impressive R24,000.

The funds raised during this remarkable event will serve as a vital resource for SoHK, enabling us to expand our existing mental wellness programs and reach an even greater number of adolescents in need. Through a holistic approach that combines sport, mentoring, and counseling, SoHK aims to provide a nurturing environment for young people to develop resilience, self-confidence, and crucial life skills.

The R24,000 will undoubtedly make a significant impact in the lives of countless adolescents, as SoHK continues to inspire, uplift, and foster mental wellness.

For more information or to make a donation towards the SoHK programme, feel free to visit this link.

Simon and Jon, our Comrades heroes!

We are so grateful to Simon and Jon for raising money for School of Hard Knocks during this year’s 87km Comrades.

Read more about and SUPPORT THEIR MISSION HERE

All donations will be used to help us grow from reaching 400 at-risk adolescents to 600 in 2024.

NEW FACILITATORS: Project NextGenMen (NGM)

In September 2022, 170+ men from 10 soccer teams in Khayelitsha started their NextGenMen journey as participants. In December, the various teams nominated their NGM Champions, men who they feel show leadership and willingness to be NGM ambassadors in their respective teams and communities. They have been receiving additional training on conflict resolution, community resource mapping plus lay counseling skills.

Recently, 15 Champions completed the 3-week NGM Facilitator Training. These men can now run their own NGM programmes in their communities and increase the reach of this impactful project.

We are excited to see how Project NextGenMen keeps growing!

Project #NextGenMen is supported by the Embassy of Ireland, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the New Zealand High Commission.