Welsh Boxing Joins Forces in £1.7m National Programme to Prevent Youth Crime
Welsh Boxing is proud to announce its involvement in a landmark two-year crime prevention initiative, delivered in partnership with England Boxing and supported by a £1.7 million investment from the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF).
The programme will engage over 3,200 young people across England and Wales who are at risk of offending, through the power of community boxing. Involving 40 affiliated clubs and gyms, including several Welsh Boxing member clubs, the project aims to use the sport to offer meaningful alternatives to youth crime and violence.
About the Programme
This initiative is one of the most significant collaborative projects in the history of amateur boxing in the UK. It is designed to assess and demonstrate how structured boxing sessions and community engagement can divert young people away from crime and towards positive life pathways.
With expert research support from the Ending Youth Violence Lab at the Behavioural Insights Team, the programme will also provide robust data and long-term evidence to support future community investment.
A key feature of the programme is its focus on reaching young people from Ethnically Diverse Communities (EDC) – with 30% of participants expected to come from these under-represented backgrounds.
Gareth Evans, Head of Community Boxing at Welsh Boxing, commented:
“From a Welsh Boxing perspective, we are delighted that the YEF have seen the potential in this proposal, and we are also thankful to our colleagues at England Boxing for their willingness to collaborate on such a project.
It shows great intent by both organisations to work together and highlights to other Home Nation federations within the sport sector that wider collaboration across nations can lead to widescale benefit.
Colleagues within our boxing communities already know the positive impact boxing can have on young lives and local areas. This programme allows us to showcase this to a wider audience, connect with new partners, and gather evidence that will shape future work and help attract further support and funding.
It’s an exciting time for Welsh Boxing and we look forward to getting activity started.”
What Will the Programme Deliver?
Over the next two years, the project will offer:
Funding, training, and equipment for Welsh Boxing-affiliated clubs
In-house boxing sessions for young people identified as at risk of offending
Community engagement events across local areas in Wales
Opportunities for six young people to take part in the EB Community Apprenticeship – gaining employment, qualifications, and the chance to inspire others
Independent research and evaluation to measure boxing’s impact on crime prevention
A Groundbreaking Collaboration
This programme is the largest community initiative Welsh Boxing has ever been involved in, and it marks a milestone in cross-border collaboration between National Governing Bodies within UK sport.
England Boxing’s Head of Operations, Avoen Perryman, added:
“We believe this programme has the potential to prove what many of us in boxing have known for decades – that the sport has the power to prevent crime and transform lives.
It’s a huge moment for our sport and for the clubs and communities we serve.”
Dr Mollie Bourne, Assistant Director at the Youth Endowment Fund, said:
“Boxing is a popular and accessible sport, but there is still limited evidence around its impact on reducing crime.
We are excited to work with Welsh Boxing, England Boxing, and the Lab to build a stronger evidence base and help shape what really works to keep young people safe.”
What’s Next?
Welsh Boxing will be working closely with clubs and partners to roll out activity in the coming months. Clubs interested in taking part or learning more should keep an eye on our website and social media channels for updates.
For more information on the Youth Endowment Fund, visit www.youthendowmentfund.org.uk