Boxing classes a hit with Maindee children

Children from Maindee Primary School have received a master class in boxing from gold medal winning boxer Sean McGoldrick.

The children, who are all from the Roma community in Newport, visited St Michael’s Boxing Gym where they were put through their paces by Sean, and local up and coming boxer Orlando Holley-Sotomi.

The session was delivered by Newport Live Positive Futures, which provides activities and outreach for children and young people, offering them positives experiences and helping to steer them away from crime and antisocial behaviour.

Martine Smith, equity lead at Maindee Primary School, said: “The Roma community in particular has been hit hard by the pandemic but today the children are all smiling.

“This is giving them the opportunity to take part in sports they wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to do and, hopefully, will help to steer them onto a more positive trajectory for the future.”

As well as keeping the children active, the sessions are an opportunity to have open and honest conversations with the children about issues including drugs and knife crime. 

Matt Elliot is from the Newport Youth Justice Service and is currently working within the Positive Futures team. He said: “This project is so important to the young people as they need a safe place and they need a safe face in their community. They want someone they can talk to, someone they can trust, and we can provide that.”

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent provides funding to Positive Futures to run outreach sessions across Gwent.

Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert said: “By offering children and young people, particularly those who may be at a real risk of becoming involved in serious crime, the chance to take part in positive activities at an early age we are reinforcing positive behaviours and helping to set the ground work that will allow them to have a happy and healthy future.”