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Amateur Boxing – Changing Lives
by Fran on February 22, 2013
This post is quite different to the stuff that I usually produce. Usually I stick to talking the
practicalities of fighting, both in the amateur boxing ring and in the professional code. From video
skills presentations to fight analysis articles, from book reviews to descriptions of the equipment
that we use.
But I came across something just recently that
really made me sit up and take notice.
Something that
made me grateful to be involved in the sport of amateur boxing, something more importantly that made me
believe that
amateur boxing and those involved in it can genuinely make a big difference in the well-
being of our next generation.
In this piece I am going to tell you about a man who was the
catalyst for making real change in his
community.
This is someone who saw the writing on the wall and
set out to make the difference.
He
could have waited for the authorities to convene 15 committees to see whether they could take an action to
see what action could be taken.
Waiting for the authorities to act in a swift and meaningful way would have been easy, but ultimately fruitless.
So rather than just ‘talk a good fight’,
this man took the fight to the problem
and has ‘cut the ring off’ on
this problem in the most heart-lifting way. In this article I am going to give you the opportunity to understand
and if possible help the very worthy cause that is the
L1 Youth Group.
Liverpool When Times are Tough
We are in very tough economic times, as bad as any in living memory. The global markets limp along in
negative growth, inflation is on steroids and unemployment continues to make it’s unwelcome presence felt.
Invariably in such times, the more deprived inner-city neighbourhoods feel the damaging effects far more
keenly than the wider community. Usually during the administration of cutbacks, it is true to say that the very
few facilities that cater to the needs of young people in these deprived areas are the very first in the firing
line.
Liverpool is no different.
Government are slow to help, so it’s up to people in the community to ‘go on the front foot’
and make a difference themselves.
One such person is
Peter McLean
who, with the able help of
Danny Costello
and
Tom Murphy,
have
built the beginnings of what I am sure will be an amazing, dare I say it life-changing resource for the
youngsters of Liverpool. I want to tell you about the work of Peter, Danny and Tom purely because it shows
what can be achieved with amateur boxing and the right role models.
I also want to give you the
opportunity to show your support.
Enough is Enough!
The L1 Youth Group
was born in April 2012. It came about as a result of Peter’s desire to do something
about the high level of serious crime in his community, crime in which many of the local youngsters had been
involved in and affected by.
The situation came to a head when Peter’s young son and his friends were shot at in a case of mistaken
identity, with one of them being seriously injured. Peter contacted his fellow resident Danny Costello (a
former 3 time Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) champion, there are not many of them about) and
resolved to do something about the worsening situation.
The pair started up amateur boxing and fitness sessions in Peter’s back yard,
with maybe 5 or 6
youngsters. As word spread, more and more youngsters were turning up at Peter’s ready to take advantage
of the lessons on offer. Peter and Danny quickly realized, in a Roy Steiger Jaws-type moment, that they were
going to need a bigger space.
Peter got in touch with the local primary school, St. Vincent de Paul, to see if he could hold sessions in the
playground. In a demonstration of real community-minded commitment the school agreed.
What started out as 5-6 lads in a back yard had
turned into 10-15 kids, then 20-30 kids
and so on as the
weeks went by. Again, being a victim of their own success, Peter and Danny realised that they needed
something more permanent and accessible that the local school yard.
Peter managed to arrange a small garage/workshop to work from and muster a very modest set of basic
boxing equipment to build a functioning gym.
This has allowed the Group to get that little bit of security,
consistency and stability.
However, the situation remains far from ideal as you will see.
How We Do What We Do
The gym opens 5 nights per week for the local kids. The average attendance figures are between 15 and 30
kids coming in off the street, but
on some nights this can swell to over 50.
The kids know where it is and
they make the most of it. Time for another movie reference, “If you build it, they will come”.
As well as week-day evenings, the Group also open it’s doors at the weekend, allowing
young people with
learning difficulties and disabilities
to benefit from this community resource. These young people can
often struggle with the ability to mix well with others, so with the help and support of their parents they use the
gym and learn from the expertise of Peter, Danny and Tom.
Beyond the gym though,
the Group really engage with the community in a special way
. A visit to the
Group’s Facebook page (there’s a link at the end of the article) reveals any number of character-building activities:
During a recent spell of cold weather and snow, Peter and the youngsters went around the area and
cleared the paths of the elderly and others with mobility problems. They also went on ‘messages’
for the housebound, buying shopping, paying bills etc.
Peter worked with the boys to clean graffiti in the local area, specifically graffiti that the young
people were responsible for. That’s direct action within the community and carries a real message
of what’s right and wrong for the kids.
On the night before Halloween, called Mischief Night here in England (or maybe just Liverpool, I
don’t know), Peter opened up the gym offering an X-Box tournament, pool, darts, table tennis, films
and food for the kids of the area.
This stuff is for me what sets the L1 Youth Group apart. Setting up a boxing gym for the young people is a
great thing to do.
Setting up a boxing gym and giving the kids this level of social responsibility to
their community is something a bit special.
It’s a Results Business
In a little under a year of operation, what have Peter, Danny and the guys achieved as a direct result of all of
their hard work? It would be enough to say that lots of young people have been given access to learning
opportunities, a chance to be together in a relaxed, engaging and welcoming environment.
But in this age of targets, statistics and benchmarks,
has the community seen the benefit of the efforts of
the L1 Youth Group team?
Well, Merseyside Police has provided the answer to this question:
Following the Mischief Night initiative, the Police called on The L1 and informed them that it had
been the quietest such night in over 25 years.
The Police have stated that crime and anti-social behaviour in the immediate area has reduced by
around 85% since the L1 Youth Group started up.
Peter and Danny have put in place a community resource that has amateur boxing at it’s core, but is about so
much more than that.
The L1 Youth Group is about building in a sense of community responsibility
within the young people.
This goes above and beyond boxing.
What Comes Next?
What Peter, Danny and the rest of the team at L1 have achieved to date is incredible. However, they are only
too aware that
some key things need to happen to really get this superb project to the next level.
At
the heart of this is the need to become an affiliated boxing club within the Amateur Boxing Association of
England.
As well as opening up some real funding opportunities, this affiliation will bring the all-important aspect of
real
competition for the youngsters.
Competition will add that major aspect that all young people need to learn
in life, hard work brings great rewards, and there can be few better rewards than your arm being lifted in
victory after a tough contest.
This affiliation requires bigger premises for the gym. In short, with floor space at such a premium, the guys
simply cannot consider installing a boxing ring. And as I’m sure you will agree, a boxing ring is quite important
to a boxing club!
Discussions are under way with the local council to assist with the premises, and this is very welcome news to
the L1. St Vincent de Paul Primary School continues to support the L1 Youth Group, no doubt because the
teachers and parents there see first hand what the Group brings to the community.
What would be fantastic is if you could visit the
L1 Youth Group Facebook page
and click on the “Like”
button. The more people that see what the team there have done, the more likely that this approach could be
taken in other areas of other countries all around the World. Who knows where it could end. Here’s the link:
https://www.facebook.com/TheL1YouthGroup
Thanks for taking the time to read this. If you have any comments or questions, then the comments section
below is awaiting. Alternatively feel free
email me.
Cheers
Fran
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Tagged as:
amateur boxing, boxing clubs, boxing gyms, L1 Youth Group
{ 32 comments… read them below or
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}
Anonymous
February 22, 2013 at 9:27 pm
Tremendous article on the lads & the group Fran!..
Reply
Scottie
February 22, 2013 at 9:37 pm
Tremendous article on the lads & the group Fran!..
Reply
Fran February 23, 2013 at 9:44 pm
CHeers Scottie
Reply
Rich
February 22, 2013 at 9:56 pm

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