Prince Harry, Nicola Adams and Anthony Joshua launch ‘Made by Sport’ with Fight 4 Change at Black Prince Community Hub
Last Wednesday (12 June), Sport for Development charity Fight 4 Change and the Black Prince Trust – a not-for-profit charity whose purpose is to manage and develop the Black Prince Community Hub in Lambeth, South London, welcomed over 300 guests including His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex and Olympic gold medal-winning boxers Nicola Adams OBE and Anthony Joshua OBE for the launch of the ‘Made by Sport’ campaign.
Managed by Comic Relief, Made by Sport is a charitable campaign that is being delivered in collaboration with the Sport for Development Coalition which features over 60 charities that use sport to deliver positive social outcome for people across the UK.
The purpose of the campaign is to champion to the public the fundamental role that sport can play in developing young people and to raise additional fund and resources for existing charities operating in the sector, like Fight 4 Change and the Black Prince Trust, with the aim of raising £40m over four years.
Both Adams and Joshua are ambassadors for the campaign, which is strongly supported by His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry.
At the launch, over 300 stakeholders witnessed a number of boxing sessions delivered to pupils from Platanos College in Lambeth and Oasis Academy South Bank by Fight 4 Change throughout the impressive Black Prince Community Hub before one of the basketball arenas was transformed into an auditorium to hear keynote speeches from Made by Sport Chair Justin King CBE, CEO of Sport England Tim Hollingsworth and Prince Harry himself.
“The Black Prince Community Hub is a fantastic facility,” said King in his opening speech. “But challenges are growing as resources are declining and in this context Made by Sport was born. This is a campaign which champions how vital community sport is to raise essential funds for charities and organisations operating in this sector, like what we have seen today.”
Prince Harry stayed longer than was originally planned, such was his enjoyment of interacting with the pupils and coaches from South London. “I’ve spent the last, probably 10 years, having an interest in Sport for Development and seeing the benefits that every sport has on every age,” he told the packed auditorium which included those young people he had just been chatting with.
Following the speeches, a panel discussion took place with Adams and Joshua joined by four community sport coaches from across the UK, including Fight 4 Change’s very own Gizmo Chu.
“Black Prince Hub and Fight 4 Change have done a lot for me,” said Chu to an enthralled audience. “Growing up, I got into a lot of trouble in and out of school and got kicked out at 15, but they gave me an opportunity when no-one else wanted to and gave me the platform to show my changes.”
“It was not really a normal day at all – I did a bit of sparring with Anthony Joshua,” said Bella, 14, from Platanos College with a big smile. “He talked to me about everything really; my technique, encouraging me, telling me what I can change and what I can fix, it was really inspirational. He was giving me all the boxing tips. I was a bit starstruck when Prince Harry joined us in the ring as there were so many clicks from the photographers’ cameras and then Nicola was also in the ring, sparring with my friends.”
“It’s really cool and I love being able to interact with the kids and give them a bit of motivation,” said Nicola Adams OBE. “It’s good to have sports they can easily access, and which are local to the community like Black Prince – the opportunity is right in their back yard.”
For Unknown, a pupil from Platanos College in attendance, boxing has given him a clear pathway. “Coming to Fight 4 Change boxing sessions gives you a different mindset of discipline,” he said. “If you don’t have any discipline you can’t really do it. But it you have discipline and can’t do it (boxing); you can learn to do it – you carry on and don’t give up, that’s when you see the results.”
“The energy these guests generated for these young people; they’re buzzing,” said Fight 4 Change trustee Len Trusty at the launch. “This can only inspire and spur the young people on, to think ‘I’m being noticed’. As a youngster you want to be noticed. You want to know that you have a part to play in your community, within society as a whole.”
“It was a pleasure for Black Prince Trust Community Hub to host the launch,” said Kirk Harrison, Strategic Advisor, The Black Prince Trust. “The Hub provides exactly the kind of community sports and education facilities that the new Sport for Development Coalition aspires to and is totally behind this exciting new initiative. I would like to thank HRH Prince Harry, Anthony Joshua and Nicola Adams for supporting the event but especially thank all the young people who participated in the activities showing exactly the kind of impact that community facilities such as the BPT Hub can have.”
For more information on Fight 4 Change visit their website at www.fight4change.org.uk, for more information on the Black Prince Community Sport Hub visit their website at http://blackprincetrust.org.uk and for more information about Made by Sport visit www.madebysport.com