Children are taking part in free boxing sessions in the West Midlands to help improve their wellbeing – and reduce the likelihood of them experiencing violence.
The sessions have seen almost 1,000 young people in West Bromwich take part, ranging from those that have been referred by schools or police due to behaviour issues and concerns of violence – or by parents who want to help improve their child’s overall confidence.
The sessions have a real focus on equipping young people with the skills and tools needed to boost their wellbeing.
Each session has a core theme running through it such as resilience or teamwork and the coaching staff reinforce positive messages around these themes. They cover techniques on self-soothing in moments of anger or anxiety, breathing techniques and how to work in a team.
Research shows young people are most likely to be a victim of violence between the hours of 3-6pm after school as they may not have a safe space to go to.
The sessions operate during these hours and provide this safe space for young people to talk and raise things they are concerned about. The coaching staff ask important questions about the child’s life outside of the sessions and build a healthy connection with the young people.
The sessions have been funded for a year by the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership and delivered by BoxClever Mentoring, an organisation running therapeutic programmes for young people.
Craig Jones, Founder of BoxClever Mentoring said: “The values of a boxing champion in the ring are parallel to the values of a champion in life outside of the ring, so we really hone in on these values to help enhance the wellbeing of every young person we support.
“These sessions are a fantastic way for our youngsters to have such important conversations in a safe space with our qualified coaches and mentors, all whilst being physically active, learning new skills and building positive peer relationships.”
£12,000 has gone towards venue hire, equipment and drinks and snacks for the children. The sessions will run until March 2025.
The sessions are part of a wider campaign and youth led movement called My Tomorrow which celebrates and amplifies the voices of young people across the West Midlands.
It aims to challenge stereotypes and put young people at the forefront of decision making in order for them to help bring about real, positive and tangible change in our communities.
To find out more about the campaign, please visit: www.westmidlands-vrp.org/mytomorrow
If you would like to get involved with the boxing sessions at West Bromwich Leisure Centre, or would like to refer a young person, please contact [email protected]
