It’s a Knockout! Charity Aids Young People’s Project

A young persons’ boxing project in Darlington, aimed at helping disaffected and excluded young people, has been given a fighting chance by a local charitable organisation.
Darlington Rotary donated £500 to N-Gage, a community interest company working out of Firthmoor Community Centre, which helps young people have new purpose.
Its Managing Director, Peter Crotty, spoke at Darlington Rotary several months ago and their donation has gone towards a brand-new boxing ring canvas.
A former soldier, Peter, who set up the project a year ago, said he himself had been a ‘problem child’ had suffered PTSD due to childhood trauma.
‘I set up N-Gage to give young people the opportunity to be involved in sport and the boxing club and gym helps keep excluded young people off the streets.’
Peter said the old canvas had been a trip hazard and Rotary’s donation – along with sponsorship from two other organisations, Locomotive Learning and S and O property Solutions – had provided them with a brand new canvas.
N-Gage works with about 60 young people aged between 11 and 19.
One of them is Bailey L’Anson (16) who has just left St Aidan’s Academy. Not only has he become a boxing coach and is about to start an engineering apprenticeship, he is also a candidate on Rotary’s Young Leader Awards programme.
Peter said: ‘Bailey is a great example of what can be achieved. We’re very proud of him and very grateful to Rotary and our sponsors for helping in this way.’
Rotarian Kevin Robinson, who introduced Peter to Rotary, said: ‘This is a brilliant programme aimed at giving often challenged young people a chance to shine. We’re very happy to be able to contribute to its – and Bailey’s – success, both with the donation and the RYLA programme.’
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Pic – Bailey on the new canvas, complete with Rotary logo.