Boxing Futures Ltd
Charity number: 1162086
Website: www.boxing-futures.org.uk
Description:
Boxing Futures mission is to improve the life chances of socially and economically disadvantaged young people through non-contact boxing, with a particular focus on enhancing individuals’ physical health and mental wellbeing. Boxing Futures was founded in 2013 with the goal of providing an alternative outlet to young people at risk of becoming involved in the youth justice system, or those who had already experienced the system. Since our inception, we have evolved to the extent that our primary focus is now on improving mental health and well-being, applicable to a broader range of beneficiary groups, but with a residual core emphasis on supporting those who are isolated.
Boxing Futures offer young people five key programmes to participate in, ranging from an alternative education provision, 1 to 1 work, through to a six month programme designed to address loneliness, isolation and the numerous barriers this presents a young person. It is widely recognised and empirically proven that non-contact boxing is an excellent medium for channelling aggression, which can be excellent for stress relief. It also boasts a number of other mental health and emotional wellbeing benefits, such as alleviating depression and anxiety and boosting confidence and self-belief. It also has a number of tangible physical health benefits. Aerobic exercise gets your heart pumping and helps lower the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Non-contact boxing is also central to fostering so-called ‘softer skills’ amongst our young people. For example, simply by participating, the young people we work with are encouraged to improve their time-keeping, practise and strengthen their communication skills, work as part of a team and build positive and trusting relationships, all of which are self-evidently essential skills and qualities for both education and employment. Therefore, enhanced employability and educational opportunity is a natural off-shoot of our work.