Minister for Crime Prevention Lord Henley is visiting a charity called Fight for Peace in Newham for their leading work on keeping kids on the straight and narrow and out of gangs. Luke Dowdney,with Minister Lord Henley,

Young people impressed a Government minister when he visited a Newham project combating crime and anti-social behaviour.

Lord Henley, minister of state for crime prevention and anti-social behaviour, dropped by the Fight for Peace Academy in North Woolwich on Tuesday May 29 to see their youth programme in action.

The academy, in Woodman Street, combines boxing and martial arts with education and personal development to keep young people aged 11 to 25 from turning to violence.

The programme is modelled on the Five Pillars, which includes free access to Boxing and Martial Arts, Education, Employability, Youth Support Services and Youth Leadership.

Lord Henley said: “It’s great to see so many young people benefiting from the Fight for Peace project in Newham.

“It’s a great example of how community initiatives like this can provide a positive outlet for those who may be at risk of being drawn into crime or gangs.”

The Fight for Peace Academy opened in Newham in 2007 and it has worked with over 2,000 youths, planning to collaborate wih 120 international youth organisations over the next three years.

Founded by English amateur boxer Luke Dowdney MBE, the first academy opened in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro in 2000 to protect children from the city’s drug gangs.

Fight for Peace is funded by Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Comic Relief, the Big Lottery, Credit Suisse and the GLA.

To get involved, visit www.fightforpeace.net or call 020 7474 0054.