Pat Benson Boxing Academy Fundraises to Support Young Offenders Project
June 4, 2025 | by Nabillah Akhtar
Pat Benson Boxing Academy recently hosted an electrifying evening of amateur boxing at the University of Birmingham, with the goal of raising funds for a vital youth intervention programme.
The event featured 17 action-packed bouts and successfully raised thousands of pounds to support the Academy’s “My Tomorrow” campaign.
The initiative is aimed at helping young people, particularly those at risk of offending, by offering positive alternatives through boxing. The campaign funds interventions that focus on mentorship, discipline, and personal development, programmes the Academy is determined to keep running in the face of growing need.
The event comes at a crucial time. The West Midlands currently has the second-highest rate of knife crime in England and Wales, highlighting the importance of early intervention and youth engagement.
Paddy Benson, CEO of Pat Benson Boxing Academy, underlined the importance of creating opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds: “I’ve seen quite a lot of stories about young people who are just in the wrong environment sometimes, so they’re from really deprived areas where crime and poverty is rife. That does lead to really reduced chances for them to gain employment and to want to flourish in life.”
The University of Birmingham played a key role in making the night a success. Jack Moss, President of the University of Birmingham Boxing Committee, emphasised the broader impact of the sport: “I’m a firm believer that the sport can help a lot more not just in terms of enjoyment but as a potential means to kind of prevent issues of like violent behaviour on the streets and instead in a more controlled environment. It’s the same with substance abuse, that dopamine you get instead put it into some hard work and exercise.”
The success of the fundraiser is a powerful reminder of boxing’s ability to change lives, not only inside the ring, but far beyond it too.
