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MOSIAC Ambassador Butt Supports Police Project To Box Down Anti-Social Behaviour
Source: Rob Wilkinson
Author: Rob Wilkinson
British Asian Rugby Association (BARA) chief and dual code international Ikram Butt showed his support for, ‘Inner City Boxing II’, a West Midlands Police initiative aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour with a difference.
Butt an Ambassador for MOSIAC was invited to the launch to talk to the young people about his life experiences in grassroots and professional sports.
Ten young males from the north Sandwell area have been selected to take part in the project. The project was launched at the Alpine House Gymnasium in Roebuck Lane and will run for 8 weeks. During this time the boys will attend the gym two evenings a week where they will be put through an intensive training routine by Richie and his team.
West Midlands Police, the Sandwell Partnership and former boxer and Super-Middleweight World Champion Richie Woodhall launched ‘Inner City Boxing’ in Aston, Birmingham in March 2008 after growing concerns from local community members about anti-social behaviour in the area.
Inspector Akeel Najib, who led the Witton neighbourhood policing team as a sergeant at the time, set up the project along side Richie Woodhall, in an attempt to engage with local young people in the area who had been in contact with the police.
Insp Najib has since been promoted and is now responsible for policing in Wednesbury and West Bromwich. After the success of Inner City Boxing in Aston, Akeel and his team were keen to roll out the project in Sandwell to overcome similar concerns in the community.
He said: “After the success of Inner City Boxing in Aston and the positive feedback from the community, having arrived in West Bromwich I could see the benefits the scheme would have in engaging with young persons from the community in the area and the affect it could have on their lives, as a result we have set up Inner City Boxing 2 in the Sandwell area.”
Richie Woodhall is looking forward to the challenge and said: “This is a great opportunity for youngsters from the West Bromwich area to be part of a sporting project that provides mentoring and focus, while carrying out an enjoyable activity.
I was born and bred in West Bromwich so feel a personal link with the town and am glad to be given the opportunity to give something back to the community I grew up in.”
Imran Mohamed, Director of the Alpine House Gymnasium has been instrumental in setting up the strategic partnership is looking forward to seeing the young people develop themselves not only in the art of boxing but also learn other key skills such as health & fitness, discipline and character building.
Commenting on the project, Ikram said: “Sport is a great way of bringing communities together and encouraging positive communication. What the West Midlands Police, Imran Mohammed and Richie Woodhall are doing for the young people of Sandwell is extremely admirable and will help provide the boys taking part with positive role models and a focus in their lives.”
The project is being funded by the Sandwell Partnership.
Further information on MOSIAC please visit www.mosaicnetwork.co.uk or contact the Mosaic team on 020 7566 8770 or mosaic@bitc.org.uk.
On the right former Super-Middleweight World Champion Richie Woodhall with young aspiring boxers at the Alpine House Gymnasium.
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