Home office visitor tours boxing clubs’ holiday projects

England Boxing has been able to showcase to the government some of the projects going on during the summer holidays to keep young people active and out of trouble.

Home Office official Kerry Charlesworth has worked extensively with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Sport England to highlights areas at risk of knife and gang crime across England.

She toured three clubs in the North West region and one in Merseyside and Cheshire to see what is being done in boxing to tackle the problem – as well as the issue of holiday hunger.

Two of those – Anfield and North Liverpool ABC and Jimmy Egan’s Boxing Academy in Wythenshawe, Manchester – have received funding from Sport England and central government specifically to tackle knife crime in their respective areas.

Timperley ABC is one of a dozen clubs across the Greater Manchester area who has been given funding by The Maverick Stars Trust to take part in the Sting Like A Bee anti-knife crime project.

Warrington’s Phoenix Fire BC, meanwhile, have delivered a raft of holiday activities for youngsters, which Kerry sampled when she stepped into the ring during her visit.

The projects in the North West and Merseyside and Cheshire are a reflection of what is happening in many community boxing clubs across England this summer.

“We have always advocated that boxing clubs are a great place to reach out to young people – and it’s great for a Home Office official to see the impact they are having at first-hand,” said Ron Tulley, England Boxing’s Head of Community Development.

“The clubs who are involved in these projects to help keep knives out of the hands of young people are doing a terrific job, and we’re hopeful that even more will begin to run similar initiatives in the future.”