Double Victory for England Boxing at Coach Core Awards
February 8, 2024 | by Nabillah Akhtar
England Boxing clinched two awards during yesterday’s Coach Core Awards ceremony held at The Oval in London, marking a double triumph for the organisation.
We were honoured with the ‘Employer of the Year’ award, while former apprentice, James Kilobo, secured the title of ‘Graduate Apprentice of the Year’.
Head of Operations, Avoen Perryman was accompanied by Club Support Officer, Max Segre along with award nominee, Gabrielle Reid, and eventual winner, James.
The prestigious event aimed to unite apprentices, alumni, their employers and learning coaches to highlight all of the great work they do.
England Boxing, in particular, was recognised for its Apprenticeship Programme which was created in partnership with Coach Core to upskill young people (aged between 16-25) from all over the country during a fifteen month period.
England Boxing joined by Professional Boxer, Anthony Ogogo at the Awards.
On receiving the award, Perryman said: “I’m honestly really blown away, I was not expecting to be able to win anything today.”
“This means so much more than just me and my involvement in the programme and trying to kick it off. It means everything to the apprentices that have been involved in it so far, Coach Core, Lifetime Training and to Sport England – who have invested in it.”
Both Gabrielle and James were a part of the first cohort of the programme and have since gone from strength to strength in their respective fields.
James from @England_Boxing on his CSHO Apprentice of the Year win! #ccawards pic.twitter.com/hlY8uKFkzU
— Coach Core (@WeAreCoachCore) February 7, 2024
James arrived in the UK at the age of 9 as a refugee, encountering the challenges of adapting to a new environment and forging a fresh start. By 17, he faced difficulties that led him to prison.
It was during this period that he discovered the transformative potential of boxing programmes. Witnessing firsthand the positive impact boxing could have on individuals, James felt compelled to give back to his community and assist young people navigating paths similar to his own troubled past.
Through the apprenticeship, James initiated ‘Activator’ courses to empower others to deliver boxing programs in their communities and organised significant community events.
He consistently volunteers his time to assist others in need, providing support to staff, clubs, communities, and fellow apprentices. Beyond the apprenticeship, James volunteers at the Black Prince Trust, a charity in Kennington, and contributes to prison radio broadcasts.
