Denton boxing club joins national fight against teen knife crime

A Tyneside boxing club is joining the national fight against knife crime by opening its doors to teenagers with nowhere to go.

Grainger Park Boxing Club has teamed-up with London-based organisation Knives Down Gloves Up to launch the Off the Streets campaign, which uses boxing as a way to save young people from a life of crime .

And this weekend a boxing ring will be put-up in the middle of Northumberland Street in a bid to reach teens.

Phil Reid, chairman and head coach at Grainger Park said: "It's not just about boxing. We want to try and help to make a difference, it's about giving people a chance and showing there is another path they can take, and educating them to take the right path."

Knives Down Gloves Up was set-up in Hackney in East London earlier this year by Paul Kavanagh.

"The original intention was to use boxing as a path to get the kids out of gangs and into education and employment," Paul explained. "I was going into estates in Hackney and teaching the kids to box and they were loving it.

"When I was seeing what was going on in London and seeing these young kids killing each other I just thought; 'I must be able to do something'."

Following his success in the capital Paul wanted to extend his work across the UK and began contacting boxing clubs across the country asking them if they would be willing to open their doors free of charge to young people, for at least two hours a week.

And Grainger Park, on Denton Road, in Scotswood , was one of the first to respond.

"It's about encouraging amateur boxing clubs to enrol in my project. They have to open their doors for to non-members for a minimum of two hours a week.

"Grainger Park was very keen."

While Newcastle might not have the same problems as London, Paul believes the fight against knife crime is just as relevant here.

"Everyone thinks London is at the forefront of knife crime, but Manchester is close behind and there are big problems in Liverpool," he said.

"But it's not just about knife crime. It's kids selling drugs and getting involved in County Lines.

"It's only going to get bigger."

Next Sunday Knives Down Gloves Up and Grainger Parker Boxing Club will be outside TK Maxx on Northumberland Street where professional boxing coaches will help give teenagers a chance to step into the ring and learn some basic boxing techniques.

Phil believes boxing and other sporting clubs can reach young people in a way that parents and teachers sometimes can't.

"The first step is to get people through the doors," he said. "It is an environment where people can come and feel safe. We get parents bringing their kids down saying, I can;t get through to them at home but they listen to you."

The Off the Streets campaign will launch on Northumberland Street between 10am and 4pm on Sunday October 27.