Alliance of Sport to support social impact of boxing

The Alliance of Sport for the Desistance of Crime is joining the All Party Parliamentary Group on Boxing to help demonstrate the sport’s benefits to Government, decision-makers and wider society. 

APPG Boxing was set up in 2011 to raise boxing’s profile, investigate ways to reduce barriers to participation, and to examine, promote and enhance the potential of boxing to act as a means of positive social change and development. 

Crime and social inclusion have been a particular focus of the Group recently, and the Alliance of Sport’s expertise has been sought to help explore how boxing can increase its impact in crime prevention and criminal justice. 

James Mapstone, the Alliance of Sport’s Co-Founder and Managing Director, is familiar with, and passionate about, the role boxing can play in this area. 

He set up a Boxing Academy whilst he was Physical Education Manager at HMP & YOI Ashfield and established a boxing club in Knowle, Bristol. Some of the Alliance of Sport’s current projects also involve the use of boxing in Secure Training Centres. 

Mapstone said: “I look forward to attending the APPG Boxing and advocating for the power of boxing and the role it can play in repairing broken lives and building a stronger society for all. We are passionate about building the evidence base to help make the case for boxing in crime prevention and criminal justice.” 

APPG Boxing actively participates in the Parliamentary and policy debate on boxing, encourages greater dialogue between boxing stakeholders and Parlimentarians across all side of the House and effectively engages with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and other Government departments to promote boxing and its wider benefits in the UK.