BOXUP has recently announced the sponsorship of the Sierra Leone Boxing Association ahead of the upcoming 2024 Olympics with the launch of their new sportswear. The partnership has resulted in curating the official sports gear for the Sierra Leone national boxing team – showcasing BOXUP’s commitment to supporting athletes, whilst the team represents their country on the global stage.

This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration between brands and sports organisations to empower athletes and promote sportsmanship on a global scale. 

BOXUP Crime has set up a new hub in Sierra Leone as a safe space to develop skills and address the high drug and crime issues taking place in the country.

The team recently travelled to Bangkok, Thailand to attend the 2024 2nd world Olympic qualification tournament to meet with Sierra Leone national champions; John Harding and Josefien Betist who competed in the qualifiers ahead of the olympics taking place in Paris next month. 

You can watch the full video of the team in Bangkok below.

They were inspirational stories about young people having their lives turned round by this boxing club… we need partners like this to work with who can grab those kids at the right moment in their life and turn it around and give them purpose.

Mayor Sadiq Khan, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, Councillor Jas Athwal, leader of Redbridge Council, and Lib Peck, Director of the Violence Reduction Unit visited the home of Box Up Crime in Ilford to discuss initiatives such as Box Up Crime working to reduce youth violence in the capital.

They met with CEO and Founder, Stephen Addison and the young people of Box Up to hear their stories and experiences and how being a part of the organisation has impacted their lives.

NO MORE RED WILL PROVIDE MORE SAFE, POSITIVE SPACES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND SPOTLIGHT TALENTED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

No More Red is an initiative between Arsenal and Adidas that will see Adidas support the long-standing work being done by Arsenal in the Community to keep young people safe from knife crime and youth violence.

There were more than 10,000 knife crime offences in London between June 2020 – June 2021.
Last year also saw the highest number of teenage murders in a year in London since records began – most of which involved knife attacks.

No More Red will provide more safe, positive spaces for young people and spotlight talented individuals who are making a positive difference in their community.

As part of the campaign, Arsenal have also taken the unprecedented step of replacing their iconic red home shirt with an entirely white kit in our Emirates FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest.
The kit will never be commercially available and will only ever be awarded to individuals who are making a positive difference in the community.

Following the game, the ten shirts worn by outfield players were gifted to charity organisations including Box Up Crime. The shirt is a symbol of positivity in the community, given to individuals and organisations who are giving back to the community and creating a positive environment for young people.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW

PEOPLE DON’T REALLY GET AWARDS LIKE THAT WHERE I’M FROM.

The founder of Box Up Crime has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s 2019 New Year’s Honours list.

Stephen Addison was recognised for his services to young people in Barking and Dagenham.

Stephen criticised the capital’s ongoing problems with knife crime and youth violence, admitting his work came with a heavy emotional toll.

“People don’t really get awards like that where I’m from,” he said, referring to the “mistakes” in his past that saw him kicked out of school and drawn to gang culture. “I don’t want to see young people get killed or murdered,” he said, adding: “I’ve been to four, five funerals this year.”

“So, for me, this award is great, it really ends off the year. But, really and truly, I want this award to do something – not just give me credibility or make people feel Box Up’s been recognised by the Crown – but I really want this award to do something in the sense that it motivates and inspires a generation of young people that they can get this award too.”

THIS WILL BE A FREE RESOURCE TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND WE WANT TO SEE THE NEXT BIG THING COME OUT OF OUR BOROUGH. WE DON’T WANT TO SEE ANY MORE [YOUNG PEOPLE] DYING OR GOING TO PRISON FOR LIFE.

In October 2020, Box Up opened a brand new hub in Barking in a bid to stop young people falling victim to violence or ending up behind bars through offering free mentoring and training. 

Owner Stephen Addison explained: “From a state of the art music studio to motivational, educational rooms and inspirational mentors, we are investing the right resources in our young people and giving them the opportunity to chase their dreams and choose success over crimeand gangs.”

“This will be a free resource to young people and we want to see the next big thing come out of our borough. We don’t want to see any more [young people] dying or going to prison for life.” He added everything in the centre provides what a young person growing up in the borough needs to fulfil their dreams.

The centre will be running an initiative named Project ROADS – which stands for real opportunities, advice, direction and support. Activities and resources on offer include music production, business enterprise, graphic and merchandise design, mentoring and counselling.

Cllr Maureen Worby, cabinet member for social care and health integration, said: “It’s so important the council works closely with partner organisations such as Box Up Crime to try and address the continuous problem of youth violence.

“Box Up Crime do some fantastic work for young people in the community from getting them off the streets and working with them to achieve their dreams.

“I hope the young people of Barking and Dagenham will use this great facility.”

EDVINAS, AN AMATEUR BOXER, FROM BOX UP CRIME ASKED FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION LENNOX LEWIS ABOUT HIS CAREER AND HOW HE APPROACHES BOXING.

Lennox Lewis about his career and how he approaches boxing.

Edvinas asked “How did you visualize being a champion when you were an amateur yourself?”. 

Lewis replied “I visualise myself all the time being a champion. The main thing is what kind of champion do you want to be? When you visualise yourself always visualise yourself winning. Visualise the top 5 boxers in the world. Visualise yourself fighting them one day.”