Chelmsley Wood boxing initiative wins top award

HIT INITIATIVE: Wayne Elcock with West
Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner David
Jamieson

A CHELMSLEY Wood-based boxing club – which has helped local young people get their lives back on track – has won a prestigious award.
Box Clever, based at St Andrew’s Centre and run by former champion Wayne Elcock, has picked up a Police and Crime Commissioner’s Outstanding Citizens Award.
The club, which was originally intended as a 12-week programme but is still running four years later, has played a major role in reducing crime and improving community relations.
Forty-two-year-old Wayne said he could to many of the youngsters he is now mentoring at the free sessions.
“It’s hard to find role models on the city streets: very often the role models are people kids should not be aspiring to. But boxing coaches can guide young people away from that life.
“I grew up in Shard End with no money and no hope and the kids can see that I’m living proof that you can turn your life around. They look at me and see what I’ve done and they get inspired.”
More than 400 young people attend the club each week and since it was set up in 2012, the programme has produced 27 amateur boxers.
David Jamieson, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I'd like to offer my sincere congratulations and thanks to all the nominees and winners - they are a true credit to the West Midlands.”
The award was presented at a ceremony at the Birmingham Rep last month.