Crime pays for Amateur Boxing in Scotland
Before reading too much into the headline it must be clearly stated that Amateur Boxing Scotland haven't tarnished their good name by participation in anything illegal...but they are now in receipt of some £360,000.00p which are the proceeds of criminal activity.
The announcement earlier this week by the Scottish Justice Secretary that cash recovered from the proceeds of crime will be used to encourage young people to participate in boxing.
Boxing clubs across Scotland will benefit from almost £360,000 CashBack for Communities funding. It is the first time that the sport has been involved in the CashBack scheme. CashBack boxing will offer young people aged 10-19 the opportunity to take up non contact diversionary boxing activities through the Amateur Boxing Academy helping them better understand fair play, build confidence, self discipline and courage and understand a healthy lifestyle and diet.
The programme will be delivered through specially designed courses through affiliated clubs in areas of high deprivation and disengaged communities. The Justice Secretary was joined at Lochend Amateur Boxing Club for the announcement by ABS Chairman Richard Thomas, ABS coach Mike Keane, Commonwealth Games medallist Josh Taylor and young boxers.
Since its launch in 2007, the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities scheme has re-invested almost £44 million of money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act back into communities hit by crime and anti-social behaviour, providing opportunities for over 600,000 young people to take part in free activities and programmes.
Mr MacAskill said: “It is excellent to see Amateur Boxing involved in our CashBack for communities scheme for the first time. Boxing is a great way to put young people on a positive path in life and keep kids on the straight and narrow, encouraging respect, discipline and physical fitness.
“Our CashBack programmes use the ill-gotten gains of criminals to create safer communities by encouraging encourage young people off the streets and into positive activities. More than 600,000 young people have already benefited from the scheme and today’s award of £360,000 will be used in clubs across Scotland.
“Scotland has a great track record in boxing and with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the London Olympics just around the corner, clubs such as Lochend will make the best use of CashBack to support our young people and sporting stars of the future.”
Amateur Boxing Scotland Chairman Richard Thomas said: “A large number of boxing clubs in Scotland are found in areas that suffer from high levels of social deprivation and crime, and this award will allow boxing to build on the good work already happening in many of these clubs with open and inclusive programmes. Amateur Boxing Scotland are delighted that the Cashback for Communities fund gives us the opportunity to welcome more young people into a safe environment to benefit from the core values of boxing.”
A.B.S. are to be congratulated on this fine initiative and if similar schemes are available in the rest of the United Kingdom then our colleagues south of the border would do well to follow suit.
