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Amir Khan and Network Rail open new community centre
and gym in Bolton |
The gloves are on as boxing superstar Amir
Khan and Network Rail open a new boxing and fitness community
centre in Bolton. The ‘Gloves’ community centre
will provide hundreds of young people with easy and affordable
access to professional training, boxing and fitness facilities.
Lots of young people use the railway as a playground because
they think they've nothing else to do. Our partnership with
Amir builds on his involvement with our No Messin’!
campaign, which aims to offer kids safer and more exciting
alternatives to playing on the railway where they risk serious
injury or even death.
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David Cameron, Conservative leader and Iain Coucher, Chief
Executive, Network Rail with Amir Khan at the launch of the
Gloves Community Centre, Bolton on 10 January 2008 |
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Dozens of people are killed or seriously injured on the railway
every year by mucking about on the tracks. In the last five years:
- One in four accidental fatalities was of someone aged eight
to 18
- Half of all near misses involved children. With the majority
of trespass incidents involving adults, this is quite
worrying. It seems as if whilst adults are taking short cuts, children
are taking chances
- The North West is the No.1 UK region for vandalism with
27% of all such incidents occurring in the area.
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| Amir Khan said: “I’m really proud to open a
centre which allows young people of all abilities to learn
about boxing, a sport which I am of course fiercely passionate
about. I hope that ‘Gloves’ will provide kids
with a place to hang out, get fit and most importantly, keep
safe. There’s no excuse for mucking about on the railway
or anywhere else. Working with Network Rail I hope that we
can show kids that there’s a much more fun way to spend
their time with their mates, and ultimately save lives.” |
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Amir has already been a tremendous supporter
of our No Messin’! campaign, which aims to reduce railway
crime by encouraging young people to get involved in healthier
activities. This fantastic new centre builds on that partnership.
NSPCC
director and chief executive Dame Mary Marsh said: “As
an NSPCC ambassador Amir’s commitment to making children’s
lives better is proven through this ambitious project of
opening his own gym for children and young people. The
NSPCC is delighted to have been invited to support this
project
by delivering sessions at the gym on keeping safe - in
the community, at home, on the internet.” |
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14,000 YOUNG PEOPLE GOT THE NO MESSIN' MESSAGE |
Over 14,000 young people across the UK took
part in a range of free activities this summer as part of
Network Rail's No Messin' Live! campaign.
Twelve No Messin' Live! events took place throughout the summer holidays. Among
the many activities available were football, circus skills, boxing, dancing,
DJ-ing and taekwondo. The events aimed to raise awareness of railway safety amongst
young people by giving them ideas about positive ways to spend their time, rather
than play on the railway. |
No Messin' visitors with Jonathan Woodgate, England and Middlesbrough
football star |
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Ian Chapman, Network Rail's National Railway Crime Education
Manager, said: "We are really pleased how well all the
events have gone and how many people have taken part. By getting
young people interested in different activities, we are hoping
that the events have encouraged them to try something new and
think twice about playing on the railway."
The events were backed by boxing hero Amir Khan who launched
the campaign on 24 July in London by sparring with Hollyoaks
star Claire Cooper ('Jacqui Mcqueen').
Amir Khan said: "It's really important to give kids a
chance to do something positive with their spare time. It’s
great to support an initiative like No Messin’, which
is a free opportunity for them to focus on something worthwhile
rather than risking their lives on the train tracks. I have
been boxing professionally since the age of 11 and it has allowed
me to remain focused and put my energy into something that
I could make a career out of."
No Messin' Live! events took place at Alloa (4-5 July) Glasgow
(10-11 July) Worthing (25-26 July) Strood (1 August) Gillingham
(2 August) Sheffield (7-8 August) Bristol (9-10 August) Derby
(13-14 August) Chelmsford (15-16 August) Middlesbrough (20-21
August) Warrington (23-24 August) Feltham (30-31 August)
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School mosaic for West Yorkshire railway
station (09/2007) |
A mosaic created by pupils from Calder High School now
has pride of place at Mytholmroyd railway station in West
Yorkshire.
The unveiling of the mosaic was carried out by
Chris Leech, Youth and Community Liaison Manager of Northern
Rail, and organised
by the Mytholmroyd Station Partnership, as part of the wider
Calderdale Safer Communities Partnership. |
Art pupils from Calder High School
with
Chris Leech |
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Northern sponsored the production of the
mosaic as part of its NorthernArt community and anti-graffiti
initiative that encourages young people to have a positive
view of themselves and their artwork.
The mosaic depicts the scenery around Mytholmroyd and
the Upper Calder Valley including Stoodley Pike in the
style of Friendensreich Hundertwasser, a committed environmentalist.
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The new mosaic unveiled |
It was produced by Year 8 students
at Calder High School, Mytholmroyd and project managed
by trainee teacher Sharon Hiley under the supervision of
Andrew Greenwood, Head of Art.
The production of the mosaic linked well with Northern’s
other diversionary initiatives for young people as it was
made during after-hours classes and a special one week
workshop during the summer holidays.
The framing and installation of the mosaic was sponsored
by Calderdale Safer Communities and Pennine Signs of Mytholmroyd.
The materials were donated by Waxmans Ceramics.
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