An organisation that provides sport and education opportunities for young people in deprived areas will receive nearly £500,000 over three years.

Fight for Peace, which combines boxing and martial arts with education and personal development for young people, has welcomed the £474,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund which will allow it to continue with its vital work.

The cash will help fund education awards and training courses for young people, and costs associated with delivering its mission to provide practical alternatives to crime and violence through sports and education among 11-25 year olds.

Marigold Ride, head of programmes for Fight for Peace UK, said: “This generous grant from the Big Lottery Fund is invaluable to Fight for Peace. The organisation has achieved so much since its inception and this grant will enable us to do even more at a time when the demand from young people for Fight for Peace’s services is at an all-time high.”

The London Academy, based in Woodman Street, North Woolwich, opened in 2007, seven years after the original academy in Rio de Janeiro was launched. Since then more than 3,000 young people have joined the Newham academy.

In July 2012 a survey of Fight for Peace estimated that the project has resulted in 175 crimes being avoided, delivering £1,128,336 worth of savings to Newham and a total of £2,504,457 in additional social benefit over the past 12 months. It is also estimated that of the 97.5 per cent of students who were NEET (not in education, employment, or training) at the point of recruitment, 89 per cent progressed into employment, training or further education and 96 per cent said they are fitter and feel differently about their health.