Junior boxing 'helping kids grow into good people'

Atti, 14, has praised the junior boxing classes at Jersey Leonis

Children who train at an amateur boxing club have praised the centre for helping them inside and outside the ring.

Jersey Leonis has trained hundreds of young boxers since it was founded in 1954.

The junior classes and its coaches have been nominated for the BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards.

Atti, 14, who joined the club in 2023, said: "I don't know where I'd be without it."

Atti, who wants to travel with Leonis to compete in the UK and become an amateur boxer, said the club had been helping him in other aspects of his life.

"I've learnt a lot," he said.

"I get confidence, discipline and fitness from the classes.

"It's been a long journey and hard work but it's been worth it."

Harry Bertam started coaching the juniors after finishing his amateur boxing career

Harry Bertam is one of the junior coaches at the club and volunteers to help between 30-40 children who come to the gym most weeks.

"It's nice to get young people into the sport," he said.

"The thrill for me is seeing the kids get in the ring for the first time for a fight and they're all happy to put the Leonis shirt on.

"We have parents come quite regularly who say their kids are struggling outside of school, but after a few weeks with us they say it's really helped their children."

The club recently registered as a charity to help fund new equipment costs to continue its work.

Club president Richard Langlois said the club taught children how to cope with setbacks

Jersey Leonis president Richard Langlois started training with the club when he was 10 years old.

"When you have a mother or father approaching you saying I don't know what you do up there but you've turned my child around... That's why we do this," he said.

"We're realistic because not everyone is going to be a champion, but that's not what it's about – it's about watching these kids grow into decent people."

The winner of the BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards will be announced in September.