News
One year on after the opening of Gloves Community Gym, which Network Rail sponsors, boxing champion Amir Khan and promising gym protege Umar Bhamji chatted to no-messin.com to talk boxing, what inspires them and how the gym has changed their lives.
During the joint interview Khan tells No Messin' how proud it makes him to see youngsters such as Umar using the club, enjoying themselves and most importantly staying out of trouble.
Amir said: "We are getting over 400 kids a week through the doors here. These kids have never boxed before and they come here, they try it and they love it. It keeps them off the streets and it gives them something to work for".
The dedicated young star Umar, who now trains almost everyday admits that only last year he was in and out of trouble with police. But having found Gloves and a more fun and rewarding way to spend his time, his life has turned around. With already a hand full of fights under his belt Umar reveals what an inspiration Amir is to him: "Having Amir as a mentor and role model makes me feel determined, if he can make it then I can make it too."
Is he the next Amir Khan? Watch this space...
Watch the interview here.
Ever wondered what would happen if you got hit by a train? Or how close to live electricity wires you need to be for the charge to jump through the air? Or what about what would happen if you stand too close to the track when a high-speed train goes by? Well, now a new film has been produced by the No Messin'! team to show you just that, and much more.
This special 12-minute film highlights some of the very specific dangers posed by trains travelling on High Speed 1, the UK's first high speed railway which goes all the way from London St Pancras station to the Channel Tunnel in Kent.
It contains some eye opening experiments by our team of "Trainiacs" who'll show you some of the hazards posed by trains which travel at up to 186mph. You can hear about high-speed train's facts and figures, the turbulence they create, how quiet they are, their stopping distance and a graphic demonstration using watermelons to show what would happen if someone got struck by a train!
Anne-Marie Batson, community safety manager at Network Rail, and presenter of the film said: "Part of my role is to talk to young people and the wider community about the consequences of messing about on the railway. It is madness for young people to play on any railway line, but owing to the fact the high-speed trains are bigger, faster and quieter, we have developed this film to highlight some of the specific dangers associated with them. We hope that by getting these messages across we can help prevent a needless tragedy."
Have a look at a trailer for this film here.
By Nicola Bastendorff, February 10, 2009
The Essex Police team behind 2SMART is pleased to announce that Network Rail has got on board and is sponsoring the 2SMART roadshows along with The University of Essex.
The 2SMART roadshow tours the county giving Year 7 pupils across Essex advice about knives, bullying, alcohol and drugs. With Network Rail on board, advice about staying safe on the railways will be included in the programme and teachers' briefing pack.
Anne-Marie Batson, Network Rail's community safety manager, says: "Network Rail is pleased to be a sponsor of the 2SMART programme. This programme complements our existing rail safety campaign No Messin', which educates young people about the real dangers of playing on the railways.
"Some young people think that messing about on the tracks or putting objects on the lines is good fun. However, the consequences are massive if someone gets arrested, badly injured or killed. 2SMART gives our No Messin' campaign a great opportunity to help deliver key safety messages to the community in locations where incidents are high."
Insp Kevin Whipps said: "We are extremely pleased to get two great new sponsors for the 2SMART shows. It allows us to continue the educational and preventative work the project delivers."
Claire Lindsay, marketing manager at the University of Essex, said: "Through the University's extensive widening participation programme, we work with young people to help them recognise the options for their futures and ultimately realise their potential. The 2SMART initiative works to achieve similar aims and this is why the University of Essex is pleased to be able to support the 2009 2SMART roadshow."
2SMART 2009 will feature drama from the London Bus Theatre company, music from up and coming Essex artist Taner, basketball skills with Streetball Extreme and Nav Oojageer the Bald MC and the latest dance moves from the Essex FM 2SMART dancers. Dom from Essex FM will, once again, be hosting the events and with a packed programme and lots of new messages the tour is set to be a great success across the county.
For roadshow dates see below:
Rehearsal on Civic Hall in Grays on March 12.
Towerlands, Braintree, Friday March 20
The Princes Theatre, Clacton, Thursday March 26
Empire Theatre, Basildon, Friday April 24
Civic Theatre, Chelmsford, Friday May 8
Towngate Theatre, Basildon, Monday May 11
Charter Hall, Colchester, Thursday May 14
Harlow Sports Centre, Harlow, Thursday June 4
Civic Hall, Grays, Thursday June 11
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Thursday June 18
Brentwood Centre, Brentwood, Thursday June 25
Network Rail and Medway YISP (Youth Inclusion Support Panel) have worked in partnership on 'Railway Safety Reps' project. Now in its second year, the project involves young people at risk of offending/anti social behaviour to be trained in railway safety messages.
The young people create and deliver a railway safety presentation under supervision from the Community Safety Manager. The presentation is approx 20 mins in length and delivered by the Reps to Year 6 primary school children in the Gillingham area. The presentation is delivered in their words and at times, describes their experiences of messing around on the tracks whilst explaining the dangers to the children.
THINK of wrestling and you'll probably imagine Hulk Hogan, The Rock and Wrestlemania.
It's fair to say the small Clackmannanshire town of Tullibody probably won't come to mind. But thanks to Network Rail's No Messin' campaign - which aims to educate young people about the dangers of railway crime while offering them alternative healthy activities to playing on the railway - you may be hearing a lot more about Tullibody Wrestling Club.
For Brian Harper, 12, Lewis Waddell, 13, and Shannon Hawke, 12, the club has allowed them to make friends, learn personal discipline and see parts of the world otherwise out of reach at this time in their lives. Now, with the help of No Messin', they are setting their sights on the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and even the Olympics.
Brian said: "The No Messin' sponsorship has helped me to pay the fees involved in competitions as well as to buy new equipment such as boots and clothing. I was even able to compete in Toulouse, in France, where I won a gold medal. I probably couldn't have gone without the sponsorship money." And Shannon revealed: "My sponsorship helped me go to Helsinki, in Finland, and be part of the British team as the only Scottish girl there. It has made things easier for my parents and also for the club, paying for new equipment." All three agree that wrestling has become a big part of their lives and has impacted on their social life in a positive way, giving them the confidence to meet new people.
"I feel more disciplined and it keeps me off the streets and out of trouble," said Brian. "I've made new friends and my parents and teachers are really proud of me." And proud they should be. As a group, their level of success at such an early age has been remarkable. Shannon is currently the best in her weight class across Britain and has been for the past three years. Lewis, despite being the youngest in his weight group, is already the fifth best, and Brian has won more than 30 medals and trophies. In fact, this current British No.1 has so many trophies, he's having a second cabinet made for them, having filled the first.
This level of success didn't happen by itself, however, but through a disciplined training regime, a balanced and healthy diet. It was also done with the support of friends and family, as well as their coach, Colin McLaren.
"I train three nights a week and I sometimes get to train with the Scottish team in Glasgow," said Brian. "I try and eat sensibly, things such as chicken and vegetables, and I drink lots of water. I do eat chocolate, too, though."
Lewis revealed: "I train for six hours a week, across three nights. I eat lots of pasta, fruit and high-protein foods but not before a bout. Afterwards it's good to have lots of high-energy sweets."
The end goal of all of this training is, of course, to compete on the biggest stage of them all. Brian said: "I'll be too young to compete in the 2012 Olympics but I would love to go and watch the wrestling bouts.
"But I'm hoping to be part of the Scottish team for 2014 and maybe the Olympics after that. I would love to compete for Scotland. I think the experience would be amazing."
Click here to view the article in "Young Scot" (PDF)
A
selection of wallpaper's are now available for you to download
including a wallpaper of Amir Khan, Colin Nell and the legendary
Matty Bloomfield!
You can choose from a range of sizes to match your screen for you to use and share with you friends.
Watch out for a new Gloves Screensaver coming soon
Click here to view and download one of our new wallpaper's!
No Messin' Live! is a series of free two-day events held across Britain during the school holidays when rail crime peaks. No Messin' gives you the chance to try a range of new activities such as boxing, wrestling, creative art, archery, karate, motor biking, freestyle football, climbing and much more.
Click here to see when and where No Messin'! events are taking place and come along!
At the launch of No Messin' Live! in Leeds today we see the champion boxer trying something new himself by swapping his boxing gloves for drum sticks and playing a track with up-and-coming teenage band The Irregulars. Together they show how anyone can uncover a talent by trying something new.
Amir said: "It's really important that young people realise they can be a winner just by taking part. No Messin' is a great campaign because it gives kids the chance to try something new for free as well as promoting the rail safety message."
"If you mess about on the railways the best you can hope for is that you won't get injured, arrested or even killed. By finding a real interest like I did you could be an Olympic athlete or even a number one recording artist... but you won't find out unless you try."
Click here to watch behind the scenes footage of Amir preparing for the launch of No Messin' Live!
Fancy being one of the next generation of Amir Khans? Then you'll need to get really fit first - so check out your local fitness centre. If you're near Bolton, then you can get reasonably priced professional boxing training as well as keeping fit at this great new Gloves community centre. Amir said: "I'm really proud to open a centre for young people. I hope that Gloves will give kids a place to hang out, get fit and most importantly, keep safe. There's no excuse for mucking about on the railway or anywhere else. Working with No Messin'! I hope we can show kids that there's a much more fun way to spend time with your mates."
Amir has been involved with No Messin'! since 2006 and fronted No Messin' Live! 2007 last year. "I want to make people think twice about playing around on the train tracks. You may think you're fast and clever, but a train is faster, and what's clever about getting yourself killed?"
Click here to see how Amir Khan opened Gloves Gym in Bolton with a bang
