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London Boxing Academy Community Project
AcademicThe 24 students all receive lessons in the fundamentals of maths, English and ICT, leading to nationally recognised Basic Skills qualifications, or in certain cases GCSEs. In addition students can opt to undertake supplementary courses in Science and Art, in place of certain sporting activities.
Alongside these subjects all students undertake the LBACP's 'curriculum enrichment' programme that incorporates such things as police liaison visits, sexual health and drug awareness instruction, and a mentoring scheme. Vocational Training
To support students in their pursuit of permanent employment the LBACP also provides tuition in creating CVs, interview technique and introductions to personal banking. Boxing and other Sports
Key Features
In addition to boxing, students participate in a range of other sports and fitness activities, including basketball and football to help develop teamwork. During the summer athletics is offered and students are frequently introduced to new sporting activities such as badminton. The combination of the three aspects to the LBACP has been proven to have a very real impact on the lives of the attendant students. With firm behavioural boundaries enforced the Academy has become a space in which teachers can concentrate on improving students' abilities to positively participate in the local community and those students are then able to grasp the opportunities presented to them.
London Boxing Academy Community Project InternshipsIn many ways the most challenging of Civitas's school projects is the London Boxing Academy Community Project (LBACP). This project works with young men and women who have not succeeded in mainstream education, mixing academic work with sport. Civitas provides the academic component, helping the students to achieve GCSE and BTEC qualifications in maths, English and other subjects. Interns are required to support the delivery of the project, and in particular, to assist Civitas's project manager in his coordinating role. Interns would be based at the LBACP in Tottenham, rather than at the Civitas office in Westminster, and would receive reasonable travel expenses. If you are interested in an internship, please contact Tom Ogg, at tom.ogg@civitas.org.uk. |
In North East London there are 15 year olds who cannot read the number on the front of a bus, live constantly under threat from unprovoked violence, beyond protection from the law and without hope for any other future. In October 2006 we started working in a partnership with the London Boxing Academy (LBA) in Tottenham to provide academic lessons for youths who have been excluded from the educational system. We aim to help them succeed academically, pursue their sporting interests, find employment and thereby play a positive role in their communities and mainstream society.
The LBA Community Project was founded in 2000 by Chris Hall and Simon Marcus. They initially had an informal arrangement whereby the coaches would work with youths who had just wandered into the gym. It helped to channel their aggression and teach them new skills. Boxing is extremely effective in changing negative attitudes by emphasising respect, discipline and commitment. Most of the youths experienced a complete turn around in behaviour and so the LBA set out to expand the project into a more permanent, structured course. That's where Civitas came in.
The academic programme is firmly focused on providing students with everyday tools, such as reading and mental arithmetic, to enable them to fully participate in society, from reading the daily papers to conducting financial transactions. In our first year of operation 75% of our students attained the Basic Skills qualifications and many have returned this academic year to sit their GCSEs.
A programme of vocational training provides further qualifications and also the experience of gainful employment, acting as an initial step into the world of work. At various points in the weekly timetable students work offsite on affiliated vocational training schemes, including introductory car mechanics and construction. During the school holidays several students have done work experience in a range of local businesses.
The core of the LBACP is boxing, a tough and disciplined sport. Boxing training offers students the opportunity to expend their energy in a purposeful manner, channeling aggression and in doing so instilling a strong sense of self-discipline. The gym is an inclusive environment populated by positive male role models, necessary to engage these otherwise severely disaffected youths and begin to build their self-esteem.