Boxing club in Dudley teaches young people about knife crime dangers

Free boxing sessions are being offered to young people in the Black Country with organisers saying the aim is also to teach them about the dangers of carrying knives.

A knife surrender bin was introduced outside Team Pumpkin Amateur Boxing in Old Bush Street, Brierley Hill, Dudley, in March 2024 after three of its young boxers were robbed at knifepoint.

Since then almost 200 weapons have been dropped in it, with more than 60 weapons – including a crossbow, bolts and a knuckle-duster – found when it was most recently emptied.

Carl Collins, one of the boxing coaches, said it was “an eye-opener” to see how many weapons were left in the bin.

“We thought we would get a handful but to get that much was a bit of a surprise,” he said.

“The boxers here all know someone who carries a knife and it’s getting out of hand.

“Boxing teaching them the dangers of carrying weapons, as well as wider lessons on being good citizens.

“I think the real success is that the children now pass on what we are telling them.”

Ben Collins, a professional boxer and head trainer, added that the club wanted to give its members an awareness of knife crime and “allow people to understand what is going on” in the area.

One girl, who did not want to give her name and who goes to the boxing club, said she was once threatened and told she was going to be stabbed and, when she told her school, they did not allow her to go in for a week.

She said she enjoyed going to the gym as she “always has someone to talk to”.

“Even if I come in sad, I’ll always leave happy,” she added.

The summer holiday sessions have been funded by the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership as part of its My Tomorrow campaign to improve young people’s lives.

More sessions will be held in October, organisers said.