At the Walker Stadium, home of Leicester City FC, Barry McGuigan, former British, European and world featherweight Ccampion, unveiled the Barry McGuigan Boxing Academy (BMBA) - launching a ground breaking educational and boxing programme where students can achieve and excel in both their academic and sporting goals.

This new innovative programme is wide reaching and is the first modern apprenticeship in boxing. It aims to help the most disadvantaged youngsters become fit for education and employment and provides a structured platform for talented young boxers to fulfil their potential in sport.

McGuigan is synonymous with initiatives that look out for the best interests of the combatants of the sweet science - he founded the Professional Boxers Association which later became the British Boxers Association.

Commenting on the latest extension of these highly commendable efforts, McGuigan said:

“Currently there are close to one million young people nationwide not in education employment or training, I strongly believe that young people need help, someone to believe in them and find their own talents. That’s why the Barry McGuigan Boxing Academy will make a difference to them as well as to those seeking the support to become world class competitors.”

Speaking at the launch, Keith Vaz MP, had glowing praise for the Barry McGuigan Academy, and revealed that the Prime Minister fully backed the initiative.

“I am here today to give you my full support, I'm here also to bring a message of good wishes from the Prime Minister. When I told him I was coming to this event when I met him yesterday, he wanted to know whether Barry was proposing to set up a branch in the House of Commons. It's very important to have sport and education working hand in hand in the same locality and I'm absolutely certain that the education secretary Ed Balls will be supportive of your scheme.

"I've also said to Barry, I'd very much like the Academy and South Leicestershire College to come down to the House of Commons to have a very special event there along with ministers and shadow ministers and Members of Parliament – I’m not quite so sure whether you can bring that boxing ring in, in time for Prime Ministers Question Time on Wednesday - I think what's important is once you start here to take this to different parts of the county. So, I think you have a very powerful message here - one that we at Westminster fully support and I think there's not much that you can get much more party agreement on these days, but definitely with the Barry McGuigan Boxing Academy - you have our full support."

The BMBA will initially work within the further education sector including colleges, specialist sports colleges and schools to help them recruit and retain students by using one of the following models:

NEETS Programme – Aimed at engaging young people back into education and society initially through a ten-week course. Designed to help develop their motivation, confidence, personal effectiveness and basic key skills, this course breaks down the barriers into education faced by some individuals and will open their eyes to the opportunities within modern education.

Boxing Development Centre – A health, fitness and education programme using the skills, discipline and training methods from boxing. Aimed at 16-19 year old males and females who have already chosen further education as their pathway. The students will receive a full-time education together with up to nine hours of non-contact boxing training each week.

Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) – A two year course aimed at students who show the ability and aspiration to perform at the highest level within boxing. Developed by Skills Active and supported by the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) this modern apprenticeship scheme has already been successfully piloted across a number of sports in the UK.

International

Along with those UK students who have chosen to study within colleges there are also an ever growing number of international students coming to the UK. By working in partnership with colleges who currently offer courses to international students and bodies such as the British Council, BMBA also aims to provide a structured development programme for overseas students.

McGuigan added: “In these challenging times, there is an even greater need to give young people the belief and a vision to succeed. I was given a chance through sport to fulfil my potential as I grew up, and I want through this programme to give other kids that chance. I have been very fortunate throughout my career and really hope that those within the further education sector get behind this new programme."

Finally, the Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe added:

“The Barry McGuigan Boxing Academy will be a fantastic boost for sport in Leicestershire. Barry is a legendary figure in the world of boxing and there is nothing like the inspiration of a world champion to get more young people into the sport. It is truly admirable that Barry has set up the academy, using boxing as a vehicle to make sure the young men and women of Leicestershire realise their potential after they have left school. It is also great to hear the Academy is going to work with young offenders to use the sport to open up routes back into education and work.

“The real strength of boxing is that it reaches the people other sports can't. I want to see boxing in more schools because it can play a real role in tackling obesity, is great for discipline and as many an ex boxer will tell you provides a real alternative to gang culture. I also want to see us unearth more future Olympic medallists and world champions. The Barry McGuigan Boxing Academy will play a crucial role in this challenge, and I hope the Leicester facility is the first of many."