In this guest blog post, LandAid Ambassador and Legal and General employee Marc Tevendale looks back on last month’s visit to Fight for Peace and the impact LandAid is having on the Newham charity.
At the end of October, three LandAid Ambassadors accompanied staff from LandAid on a visit to the Fight for Peace Academy in East London. In 2013 LandAid awarded a grant of £41,431 to the Academy as part of the centre’s expansion plans to increase capacity and allow more young people access to the programme it runs.
The Academy combines boxing and martial arts with education and personal development to help young people in communities affected by crime, violence and social exclusion to realise their potential. Newham was chosen as the site for the Fight for Peace Academy due to its high levels of youth crime, poverty and lack of educational attainment.
Alex Le Vey from Fight for Peace introduced us to an inspiring group of young people from the Academy involved in the Youth Panel, personal development programme and those who had attained martial arts qualifications through their time at the centre. Through a unique combination of fitness and learning the charity provides hundreds of young people with a place to learn new skills for free within in a safe and inspiring environment.
During the tour we saw how the addition of a three-level extension has allowed more space for martial arts and the personal development programme to take place. LandAid’s funding has allowed for the creation of a rooftop training space, further expanding the area for activities to take place.
The Academy is a fantastic example of how LandAid can help create places that inspire and develop young people who come from some of our most disadvantaged communities.
With thanks to Alex Le Vey and the young people at Fight for People who organised the tour.