YOUNGSTERS from a community initiative which uses sport to improve behaviour, helped out during the clean-up operation after the recent floods.

Members of the Hitz Kidz programme, run by Worcester Warriors, got out their buckets and sponges and started removing mud splashes left behind by flood waters on the white bars and fences at Worcester Racecourse, in Pitchcroft.

Hitz officer Stuart Brooks said this was just one of many things the young people, many of who have committed crimes and come from challenging backgrounds around Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, have been involved in.

“They’re not in education, employment or training and they are all volunteers and we asked them to pick something that could help, and this came out on top,” he said.

“Previously, they have been involved in and organised a charity match but it is the people who come forward and if they want any jobs doing, we do it.”

The program is delivered by Premiership Rugby Clubs and funded by national partners Wooden Spoon and Comic Relief.

It works to initiate behavioural change and foster confidence in disenfranchised young people aged between 11 and 19 by using rugby to encourage them to stay in or re-enter education, undertake apprenticeships or vocational training and to enter paid employment.

“We’re just trying to get them out in the community to give something back instead of them taking all the time,” Mr Brooks said.

“We want them to next pick a charity and go raise a lot of money for that charity.”

For more information about joining the program, email stuart.brooks@warriors.co.uk.