Newcastle Boxing Gym launches Gloves Up Knives Down initiative to give more opportunity to local kids.

Hazlerigg's Pro Fitness Gym set up the Gloves Up Knives Down scheme with the ambition of giving children in the area better prospects. The scheme offers free no-contact boxing lessons for 9 to 16 years old in the area.

Michael Johnson and Louise Coates, the couple behind it, say it's about giving young people better opportunities, whilst keeping them out of trouble and teaching them about discipline. They made the decision to go ahead with it following the death of Gordon Gault, a 14-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed in Elswick, Newcastle.

The couple say: "there's been too many knife incidents and we want to keep kids on track, focused and healthy."

Michael, who's a boxing coach there, told us how they're able to offer these classes for free:

"We have a donations bucket in the gym, we have a GoFundMe page... but we haven't put a cost on, we don't ask any parents for any money. We don't want to put that pressure on them, or have kids come one week and not the next because they can't afford it."

Michael is a boxer himself, and told us he got into the sport when he was younger through a similar initiative.

'My coach was Paddy Hallett, from Blakelaw and Cowgate Boxing Club. He took me in at 8 years old and I didn't really have the money to pay for subs. It was never a problem. It was about getting kids in, off the streets. I feel this is my time to give the kids something back as well."

"The background I came from, it was either run around the streets and street corners, get involved with crime... or go to the boxing club."

"It's a massive discipline learning curve when you come into boxing. It's not just about punching and physical fitness. If you don't listen, you don't learn."

The boxing gym usually caters for higher level adult learners, but with this initiative, the gym has been raising funds to get specific equipment for children, such as boxing gloves and lighter weights.

"We are a little bit far out here, really there's not a lot to do here. Especially for young kids. Once they're home from school, if they're not knocking around in the village, they're in their bedrooms, on their computers, on social media... not really interacting."

Louise is owner of the gym, and another coach there. She told us it's not just tackling the problem around knife crime in the area and giving more opportunity to young people, but it's also supporting children's mental health and wellbeing.

"These kids have dealt with lockdowns, and that has caused a massive impact for them. Some don't want to go out of their house or bedroom. Some are just staying on their phones and on social media. So with these classes alone, they're growing so much confidence...it's beautiful to see how much they're coming out of their shell."

Louise told us about the success it's had with helping young people in the area, with parents giving her first hand feedback on how it's improving their wellbeing.

"Since coming here, he can sleep a bit better, he's not as emotional, and it's made things better for his mental health. That was just priceless for me."

The gym is aiming to raise £5,000 to keep this initiative going so they're able to support more young people and give them the opportunity to learn how to box. Their GoFundMe page can be found here.

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