Last year, as a part of an alternative learning set up with local schools, the Brendan Ingle Foundation carried out a mentoring scheme with a small number of pupils at high risk of either expulsion, criminality or anti-social behaviour. The programme consisted of a mixture of boxing sessions in the gym, onsite mentoring at the schools and extra curriculum from interview skills to litter picking in the community. The aim of these sessions were to teach a number of skills such as self-discipline, self- conduct, respect and sociability, all of which can be transferred into strong foundations for everyday life.
Amer Khan was one of the coaches to take part in delivering the talks, classes and workshops at the schools, having attended the same high school as the group of students, he demonstrated that it is possible to turn a lifestyle around and contribute positively to society. The idea was that along side the health and fitness benefits of boxing, the sessions would also include exercises and activities that would build confidence, teaching the students that they too are capable of achieving big.
One particular student who found himself on to a promising pathway through the programme was 16 year old Liam Arundel. Who at the time was predicted to fail most of his GCSE’s and missing a majority of school. Through the process of mentoring with Amer and the Brendan Ingle Foundation he achieved good marks in a majority of his core subjects and secured himself a place on a Level One Mechanical Engineering course at Barnsley College. As if this wasn’t enough he picked up some incredible boxing skills, showed immense dedication and drive, and went on to box competitively winning a number of amateur bouts. Liam is a shining example of a lost teenager who has developed into a confident, friendly and hardworking young man. With huge boxing profiles such as Billy Joe Saunders and Kid Galahad around the Ingle gym, he’s looking up to the best in the business. He is still an active boxer for the Ingle gym, and top of his training and college course, Liam comes into the gym to spend time with the next round of pupils coming through the mentor scheme, leading by shining example. The sky’s the limit for Liam!
