Wandsworth boxing charity Carney's Community receives £62,500 grant

Carney's Community, a boxing charity based near Battersea Park in Wandsworth, has been awarded a £62,500 grant from The Standard's Sporting Chance campaign. This initiative has generated £500,000 to support youth charities across London that use sports coaching and mentoring to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people.

Support for Vulnerable Youth

The charity provides support to 934 individuals each year. According to figures from The Standard, 47% of those supported are considered at risk due to adverse childhood experiences, school exclusions, or criminal records. The grant from The Standard's Dispossessed Fund, administered by The London Community Foundation, will enable Carney's Community to continue its work.

George Turner, co-founder and CEO of Carney's Community, described the charity's approach as offering a 'positive gang' for young people. He explained that boxing teaches them to control aggression, alongside the importance of discipline and punctuality, skills essential for employment. World Middleweight Champion Denzel Bentley, a former beneficiary and now an ambassador for Carney's, also backs the campaign, highlighting the vital role such organisations play for hard-to-reach young people.

Transformative Journeys

Nabil, now 25, found support from Carney's Community after his brother's death when he was 16. The charity assisted his family with housing advocacy, provided mentoring, and helped him find employment. Nabil has since earned a computer science degree and works as a software engineer, while also volunteering as a boxing coach at Carney's. He stated, 'At the lowest point in my life, they gave me what I needed to survive and thrive.'

Cyprian, 21, also benefited from the charity's support. After experiencing difficulties and being at risk of engaging in crime at 17, Carney's helped him secure his first job and his current role in advertising sales. He has also had unique opportunities, including work experience at Wimbledon Tennis. Cyprian noted, 'Wherever you come from, and even if you mess up, they will help you.'

The Sporting Chance campaign, in partnership with Greenhouse Sports, aims to provide sports coaching and mentoring to young people in deprived areas of London. The £500,000 raised is split between Greenhouse Sports programmes and four other youth charities, including Carney's Community.