Dr Steve Hills, a sport-for-development expert at London Met, will share his expertise at a boxing focused All Party Parliamentary Group meeting in April.
Date: 11 April 2018
Dr Steve Hills, senior lecturer in Events Management BA at London Metropolitan University, has been invited by Chris Evans MP to share his expertise at the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) meeting on 24 April.
Dr Hills has been asked to speak about boxing and, in particular, focus on crime reduction and social inclusion, a topic which relates to his recent research. The meeting will aim to engage with positive stories about boxing helping young people affected by crime and social exclusion.
Dr Hills’ recent research investigates the effect of boxing-based sport-for-development interventions on gang crime, reintegrating offenders, school exclusion and physical inactivity for England Boxing, Fight 4 Change and the Boxing Academy. Dr Hills has conducted experimental designs so to make reliable causal inferences and case studies to understand the best practices behind programme effects.
“Due to its association with violence, boxing is rarely thought of as a vehicle for positive social change,” said Dr Hills.
“However, my research has established that boxing is particularly effective in engaging target groups for gritty social problems, that it serves to re-channel aggression, provides tough role models and builds a sense of community build upon blood, sweat and tears. I look forward to sharing the insights from my research with the All Party Parliamentary Group.”
Founded in 2011, the APPG on Boxing seeks to demonstrate the benefits of boxing to Government, decision-makers and the wider society. They actively participate in debates about boxing.
