Boxing clever at new project
A NEW council-funded scheme to get kids off the street really packs a punch.
Following a grant of 3,000 by the Spen Valley area committee, Kirklees Council, the police and other local groups will launch a boxing project during weekend evenings.
Operating out of the Cleckheaton Police Boxing Academy, in Dewsbury Road, boys and girls aged 14-17 will be encouraged to take up the sport with expert tuition from the academy's coaches.
Classes will be held late in the evening on Thursday, Fridays or Saturdays – peak times for anti-social behaviour.
Youths will even have the option of catching a mini-bus to the gym and could benefit from free-health checks, stop smoking services as well as getting a high standard of coaching.
The scheme won the support of Cleckheaton Insp Tim Holland.
He said: "It gives young people something positive to channel their energies into. Of course, it can also lead them into other things and could be a way into sport for them. Anything that has a professional basis like this is a very good thing."
It is hoped that the scheme can be rolled out across Spen later this month, with help from the police and Cleckheaton Fire Station.
A special launch night, could involve a guest appearance by undefeated super featherweight fighter Gary Sykes, from Dewsbury, or even Ricky Hatton.
Committee chairman Coun Andrew Pinnock said he was pleased the support the funding application.
"The fact that amateur boxing is structured in the way it is, means that there are no worries about encouraging violence," he said.
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Weather for Cleckheaton
Sunday 12 February 2012
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Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
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