Limehouse Boxing Academy help out with Street Elite Festivals project

Limehouse Boxing Academy in East London are spending the whole of June coaching young people in boxing at Street Elite Festivals across London.

More than 200 primary school children take part at each of festivals – and all of them get to take part in a fun boxing session.

The Street Elite project is aimed at getting young people, who are vulnerable, who have been in trouble or in gangs, into employment or education and back into a positive frame of mind.

 “Street Elite is a fantastic project funded and run by The Change Foundation,” said Shah Rahman, coach of LBA.

“Sport festivals like these are brilliant for the community and the culmination of a lot of hard work and so it’s so good to see everyone enjoying it and boxing playing it’s part.

“We have been working with The Change Foundation for several years now and everything they do is aimed at bettering the lives of young people.

Limehouse boxer Ishan Rashid, 18, added: “Street Elite uses sport to re-engage young people across London who have fallen into a difficult situation.

“Boxing plays a big part in the whole idea of getting fit, getting active and doing something positive with your life and having the mind set to go into the workplace.”

The project has won plenty of well-deserved support, including from former world heavyweight champion Frank Bruno.

“The young people who have graduated from Street Elite help us coach the youngsters,” said LBA coach Shannia Gordon, “It gives them responsibility, as well as being fun.

“It’s great for everyone. Both the young children and the  graduates get so much out of it and to have a British boxing icon like Frank Bruno supporting is the icing on the cake.”