HITZ is back for 2019/20, with a brand new home, right at the heart of community in Saracens home borough, Barnet.
UNITAS Youth Zone is a state of the art six million pound development, opened in the summer as part of the ‘Onside’ Youth Zone group that operates nationally.
Each Youth Zone is run as an independent charity and is supported by local businesses, charities and individuals with the aim to offer ‘21st century youth provisions within iconic buildings, that empower young people to socialise with other young people and inspiring role models’.
The Saracens crest takes pride of place on the impressive entrance to the Youth Zone, as one of the founder patrons of the centre. This has helped develop a strong and exciting relationship between Saracens Sport Foundation and UNITAS YZ, with the HITZ Learning Academy based there four days a week throughout the academic year.
Boasting impressive facilities for young people of all ages and interests, UNITAS offers HITZ learners the chance to learn in an inspiring setting with access to great sporting facilities including – a full size sports hall, 4G pitch, fully stocked gym and even a climbing wall.
Sporting pursuits aside, the Youth Zone has a range of great opportunities, at its centre, a large flowing social space, with Pool, table tennis and big screen games of FIFA, which have really brought out the competitive side of all the HITZ learners.
Leading away from this space, behind each door you will find something new for learners to engage in, Arts and crafts, a training Kitchen and a state of the art Music Studio – which two of our learners are using to utilise their passion for writing music as a creative way to complete their English functional skills course work.
With continued support of the HITZ staff, they are hoping to compile and release their own music throughout the course. Having access to such a great range of facilities allows us to support each young person to improve their physical and emotional health and wellbeing, which can prove invaluable to personal and professional development in the future.
HITZ works to provide 16-24 year olds who are disengaged with education an opportunity to take the next positive step in their lives.
Many of the learners we work with have been out of education for a number of years and may be facing difficult circumstances at home or in their personal lives so naturally, this can be a challenging time for everyone involved, however by attending the HITZ learning academy, learners have already taken the first positive step on that journey.
By offering each young person a safe and inspiring place to come and learn everyday makes that journey just a little bit easier. The exposure to a positive and nurturing environment allows young people to focus on and discover what they enjoy and have a passion for, an opportunity that many, previously would not have been afforded.
Working in partnership with UNITAS enables Saracens Sport Foundation to positively impact the lives of our HITZ learners and provide a range of unique opportunities all under one roof. We are excited to continue to work together and to see the progress and development each learner takes throughout the year.