Boxing charity warns of increased pressures to children’s mental health
Empire Fighting Chance offers pioneering boxing therapy to help alleviate anxiety and build confidence
A boxing charity that helps deprived youngsters change their lives through sport has warned that children are facing increased pressures on mental health with family breakdowns, domestic and substance abuse and chaotic home taking their toll on children’s lives.
The pandemic has had a devastating impact on thousands of young people and Empire Fighting Chance says improving children’s mental health now needs to be top priority.
Empire Fighting Chance’s boxing therapy programme helps transform young people who are suffering from poor mental health and the charity has teamed up with England Boxing to help even more children this Children’s Mental Health Week.
The charity, based in Bristol, runs non-contact boxing courses, mentoring and therapy for more than 4,000 people a year. And, thanks to the partnership with England Boxing, affiliated clubs can take advantage of free training and support on how to harness the power of boxing to help even more young people overcome behavioural issues and mental health problems.
Martin Bisp, CEO at Empire Fighting Chance, said: “According to NHS data, referral rates to child mental health services are now at record highs and evidence suggests that those at greatest risk of poor mental health during the pandemic were children with previous mental health or learning difficulties and those at socioeconomic disadvantage.
“It’s something we have certainly seen here at Empire Fighting Chance. Children have been faced with many issues which have only been exacerbated by the pandemic – things like family breakdown, crime, substance abuse, domestic abuse, anxiety, self-harm and depression. These will only increase the pressure on young people post-pandemic. Our boxing therapy exploits the grittiness of boxing to attract young people by using physical activity to inspire changes in their lives.”
Empire Fighting Chance uses sport to mentor and educate and to provide therapy and careers guidance. It supports vulnerable young people aged from eight to 25, most of whom live in poverty, poor housing and workless households. Many young people have a range of emotional and behavioural issues, including anger, anxiety, depression and very low self-esteem.
Martin added: “At Empire Fighting Chance we have taken therapy out of clinic walls and deliver sessions using boxing therapists. Through boxing, a sport that commands focus, orientation, grit, self-awareness, boundaries and agility, we are introducing these attributes to the young people we work with. As they start to learn more about the sport, they naturally begin to mirror its discipline in their daily behaviour and relationships.”
Robby* 14, was independently referred to EFC by his parents last year after suffering from severe anxiety, low mood, and lack of confidence. However, thanks to boxing therapy sessions, he has a new-found strength and confidence grew and walks into the gym with a smile on his face and a can-do attitude.
Robby said: “EFC has given me a massive confidence boost. I have built really good relationships with others in the gym which I could not do in school. There are people here who I never would have spoken to, yet I have made lifelong friends here. When I leave EFC, I have the right tools with me to help me feel confident in the outside world.”
