PCC Funding enables champion boxer Tommy Coyle to launch youth engagement programme

On Thursday 25^th April, champion boxer Tommy Coyle will launch a new initiative to engage with young people across Hull, East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire as he rolls out his Box Clever Bus in Hull’s Orchard Park estate for the first stop in a year-long tour aimed at reducing violence and anti-social behaviour through positive activities.

The double-decker bus, which has been purchased thanks to funding from the Home Office, secured by the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner, is kitted out with a gym, youth space plus a mobile boxing ring.

Tommy and his team will be working alongside partners from young peoples’ services to deliver sports activities, arts, craft, music, as well as offering advice on life choices. There will also be advice on health, nutrition and a fruit and veg smoothie bar where you can make and sample delicious healthy drinks, funded and sponsored by NHS Hull CCG.  

The bus will be fueled by Sewell on the go for its 12-month tour of Hull, the East Riding and Northern Lincolnshire, as well as the business providing a home for the bus to be stored at one of its 13 sites when it isn’t in use.

Joining Tommy at the launch event will be the team from Hull Beats Bus, who provide an exciting way for young people to get busy with hip-hop, break dance, DJ-ing, songwriting and graffiti art.          

Tommy Coyle said: “I am proud to be from my local area. The support I have experienced throughout my boxing career has been amazing.  I want to give something back, create a safer and better environment, investing time in the next generation.

“My vision is driven by my passion and it has always been my ambition to be the best fighter.  If not for boxing, and the structure that it gave me to channel negative energy in a positive way, I would no doubt have chosen the wrong path.  I intend on putting back into the community with the bus, to repay the support that I have received.

“My mission is to improve aspirations, and build resilience mentally and physically, to enable people to be strong to take on life and face challenges.  We will use our bus to mobilise this vision, and the positive activities, through exercise, nutritious food, music, dance, arts and creativity, and youth space, will enable us to drive the mission.”

“You don’t have to be the most talented in order to achieve success, if you’re willing to work hard, make sacrifices and persevere when things don’t go to plan, success is eventually inevitable, so come and join us on the bus to a better life!”

Steve Arnott, founder of Hull Beats Bus added: “We are very proud to be partnering with Tommy on his launch. Working with young people is so important and both the Beats Bus and the Box Clever bus are working hard to achieve our aims of inspring the next generation.”   

The Box Clever bus will be launching at Orchard Park Shopping Centre, Ellerburn Avenue, Hull at 6pm on Thursday 25^th April, before moving on to visit Hull’s Preston Road and other locations in Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Goole, Immingham, Bridlington, Hull and Withernsea over the course of the next 12 months.

CLICK HERE to view the timetable with dates and locations