How the DiSE programme shaped me: Harvey Horn

Harvey Horn has made a successful career as a professional boxer and says he owes a lot to the DiSE (then AASE) programme, which he studied in London between 2012 and 2014.

“The DiSE programme was a great experience for me and really helped during those important development years from 16 to 18.

“It gave me extra time to train, placed me with many other good boxers who I could learn bits from and also opened my eyes to all the important aspects of the preparation involved to be an Elite boxer.

“It gave me new ideas about cardio training, gave me different ideas about how to structure my technical training and organise myself and it definitely helped me as I made the transition to GB.

“We would sometimes be given the opportunity to go up to Sheffield and spar with the GB squad. I’d go up with future British champion Ted Cheeseman and some of the other top boxers on and the DiSE programme.

“That, without a doubt, gave me some vital knowledge and experience when I went for the GB assessment later on.

“As well as all that, I made some friends for life and had some great experiences both in the school and away on training camps and I got extra qualifications that will always be there. I always look back on my time on DiSE as a great time in my life.”

Harvey won six England Boxing national titles as a Junior and Youth and also won the England Boxing National Elite Championships at Under-49kg title during his last year on the programme, boxing for Repton BC.

He was on the GB programme from 2014 until 2017. He won a silver medal at the European Championships in 2015 and also gold at the European Under-22 Championships in 2017.

The now 25-year-old also boxed in the World Series Boxing (WSB) tournament on many occasions.

Harvey is now 8-0 as a pro and before the Covid-19 Pandemic hit, he won the WBA international flyweight title.

More about DiSE

The Level 3 Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) qualification supports talented and committed young athletes who have realistic potential to be high achievers in their sport.

It is the officially-endorsed boxing education programme supported and recognised by England Boxing.

With a value of 64 UCAS points, it combines boxing and full-time education so participants have the skills, knowledge and competence to pursue sporting excellence alongside education and a future career.

DiSE offers aspiring boxers aged 16 to 19 the chance to train full-time in boxing while also studying full-time to gain qualifications that will benefit them outside of the ring.

You can study DiSE over two years alongside your school or College main study programme and is delivered by highly-qualified and experienced England Boxing coaches.

There are six hubs offering the programme across the country: Gateshead College (North East), the Joe Gallagher Academy, Manchester (North West), University College, Birmingham (Midlands), SGS College, Bristol (South West), The Spotlight Centre (London) and Greater Brighton Metropolitan College (South).

To find out more about each one, contact the coach for each one, or apply, click here.