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Bradford Police & College Boxing Academy Wins Prestigious Award For Outstanding Sporting Project
The project was recognised for its success in inspiring greater female participation in the sport, enhancing sport within the college and local community whilst challenging sexist attitudes and boosting medal hopes at London 2012.
Established immediately after Beijing 2008, the scheme has seen the College working in partnership with the University of Bradford, Police Community Clubs of Great Britain, Amateur Boxing Association of England and Bradford Council.
Accepting the award were Paul Porter, Bradford Boxing Development Officer, and Saira Tabasum, British Universities and Colleges boxing champion.
She said: I think this award is great. We thought we were in with a good chance but it’s still amazing to be holding this award.”
The College is confident that the programme will continue to grow using the example of London 2012 and the allure of Rio 2016 to demonstrate to female students that they can make their mark in any field, even if it does appear at first sight to be male-dominated.
The projects which took the silver awards were Inter College Festival of Sport by the Host Borough Colleges and Performance Sports Engineering Laboratory by University of Southampton.
The Inter College Sports Festival is a sports participation and volunteering initiative where students from nine participating colleges located within the six Olympic host boroughs compete in a series of free sporting competitions. The aim is to encourage active participation across the colleges, promote cross-college relationships and introduce students to new opportunities including disability sports.
The University of Southampton’s Performance Sports Engineering Laboratory (PSEL) has more than five decades of expertise in the field of sports performance ranging from sailing, motorsport, cycling and swimming. The work of PSEL has been invaluable in the development of effective test methods for sports equipment and technology and in assisting elite athletes achieve sporting excellence.
The bronze award winners were as follows:
Imperial College London “Rio Tinto Sports Innovation Challenge”
Loughborough University “NHS Choices: ‘What’s Your Sport?’ Tool”
South Devon College “Special Inspiration Games”
University of Newcastle “Wheelchair Fencing”
University of Nottingham “Any-Body Month”
Universities South West “RELAYS (Regional Educational Legacy for Arts & Youth Sport)”
The award was presented by Karen Rothery, Chief Executive of British Universities & Colleges Sport, and former Olympian and current celebrity Sport Relief trainer, Professor Greg Whyte from Liverpool John Moores University.
You can watch the acceptance speech by Bradford College’s Boxing Development Officer, Paul Porter (above).
Central London Crime Reduction Team reaps the benefit of the Police Clubs’ Contender Am-Box programmes
This police ‘offender diversionary project’ in Central London has been running with the Metropolitan Police and Police Clubs GB – The lead officer has sent this resounding testimonial to the work carried out by the Police Clubs, and in particular the lead coach in the programme, officer Cliff Perkins:
“I am pleased to say that the H.A.S.C a non contact boxing club, established in May 2011 in Pimlico central London, is still very much up and running. With over 40 registered members, last week we had twenty seven 7-12 year old boys and girls turn out to train .
What I did not expect when we started was the interest we have from young adults who have become involved in assisting at the club. We currently have 5 males and one female aged 15 to 18years who voluntarily give up their time to assist the project every Friday between 6 & 7.30pm. In order for them to develop and maximise their potential as coaches. I arranged for five of them to attend the Police Clubs ‘Contender Plus course’ at Hendon on Saturday 3rd March 2012.
Some of them have no Boxing background so were complete novices and a little apprehensive. The course was excellent and pitched at just the right level. Cliff Perkins the lead coach quickly put them at their ease which meant they were able to really enjoy the day and get maximum out of it. With every one of them giving positive feedback about the day.
The most outstanding thing I have witnessed since they attended the course is the instant improvement in confidence levels. Prior to the course I was constantly having to direct them but now they are all far more self assured, enthusiastic and keen to use and develop the skills they were taught.
From my own perspective I now feel I can trust them in terms of the delivery and quality of the training we can provide, which has had a positive impact on the dynamic of our club.
Well done to the Police Clubs and Cliff on the delivery of an excellent programme which I know from personal experience is making a difference to the lives of so many young people.
Kind regards
Alan Boyd
P.S Unfortunately Pimlico has suffered a series of violent incidents which has created considerable interest in the ongoing work at our club. I will have no hesitation in reflecting on the positive impact and merits of Contender Am-Box programme at every opportunity to my police colleagues and beyond.”
Total Policing is the Met’s commitment to be on the streets and in your communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.
