A TOUGH-TACKLING rugby initiative has arrived in Dunfermline to help unemployed men get back into work.

The School of Hard Knocks (SoHK) charity uses a mixture of motivational classes and rugby training to equip participants with the tools to make the next positive step in their lives.

The eight-week course is being run at Dunfermline Rugby Club and is being delivered in partnership with Fife Community Police.

Rosanna Innes, programme manager, explains: “This course aims to give those taking part a new sense of confidence, improve their self-esteem and ultimately help them find a new job or career. We want everyone leaving here feeling empowered.

“By the end of the course, they will have two fresh qualifications to add to their CV as well as all the transferable skills they’ve learned through rugby.”

The potentially life-changing course provides two weekly half-day classes with breakfast provided before rugby training, lunch and classrooms sessions throughout the afternoon.

The classes approach subjects like goal-setting and interview techniques, as well as working towards attaining a Community Achievement Award and Employability Award from Edinburgh College.

Calum Gauld, SoHK course facilitator, said: “Stepping through the door on the first day is often the hardest part.

“Everyone has their reasons for being there, they’ve all been on a different journey.

“After they come here, they realise there’s people in a similar position and it’s great to see them all wanting to better themselves and make a change in their lives.

“We run a module looking at what makes up the DNA of a champion.

“There’s a common theme that many great winners and champions had to overcome some form of adversity in their lives.

“Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and everyone has something to offer. We want them to take confidence from that and believe in themselves.”

David Crombie (left), 31, from Blairhall, has been unemployed for more than a year and is already seeing the benefits from the course.

He said: “When you leave here at the end of the day, you feel good about yourself.

“You feel that you’ve achieved something and it gives you a rare night of good sleep.

“When you aren’t working, you really feel down about things.

“I left school at the end of fourth year and it’s been hard to find work when you don’t have a lot of qualifications and when you have gaps on your CV. It’s very hard and I don’t think people understand how difficult it can be not being in work.”

At the end of the course, participants will take on the local police rugby team in a full-contact match and a graduation evening will be held where they will receive certificates and hear a speech from a Scottish international rugby player.