Coaching Edge 33 2013 | Page 25

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|COMMUNITY INSPIRATION| COACHING EDGE

‘I see kids coming to
the gym for the first
time looking at the
ground, and within
half an hour they’re
smiling and engaged.’
He is also behind the first qualification that
combines boxing and education and can be
delivered as part of the school curriculum. In
conjunction with ASDAN (Award Scheme
Development and Accreditation Network), an
awarding body that accredits life and
employment skills qualifications, he
has developed the Certificate
of Personal Effectiveness
(CoPE), available at Level
1 (equivalent to GCSE
grades E-F) and Level 2
(equivalent to GCSE
grade B). As well as
gaining credits through
boxing activities,
students must
demonstrate skills
such as teamwork,
research and
problem solving.
HOP works closely
with the Charter
Academy, a local
secondary school,
and it became the
first to offer the
qualification,

Shillingford’s
words of wisdom

And a presentation about the BTEC
qualification combined with football at a
Coaching Edge summit last June inspired him to
approach the local South Downs College
about developing a similar qualification
in boxing.
This autumn, the first students began the
qualification, which allows them to develop an
in-depth understanding of boxing while
studying for the BTEC Level 3 Extended
Diploma, which is equivalent to three A levels.
Shillingford is a supreme networker and the
club has links with a growing number of
organisations: Portsmouth City Council,
Barnardo’s, the youth inclusion team, the
Respect programme, the University of
Portsmouth and other colleges, schools and
youth clubs in the city and beyond.

One of Shillingford’s favourite
sayings comes from his Royal
Navy days:
Good – better – best
Never let it rest
Until your good is your better
And your better is your best.

His next target is to secure a Big Lottery
grant. ‘There are still so many kids we miss
because they can’t pay for a session, and
can’t afford any equipment. If we can get a
grant, we can heavily subsidise them.
‘I see kids coming to the gym for the first
time looking at the ground, and within half
an hour they’re smiling and engaged. A
few weeks later, they’ve got their head up
and shoulders back and they’re wearing
their HOP hoodie or tracksuit. I want
to give as many as possible that
opportunity.’ C E

© Phil Mingo/Pinnacle/Gillette

Alongside the participant awards, there is a
range of coaching qualifications. The Boxing
Tutor Award can be gained by anyone over
the age of 14 who would like to deliver
sessions either in or outside of a boxing gym,
and around 8000 have qualified so far. ‘The
young people who qualify as boxing tutors start
realising they can communicate and they feel
empowered. I train or mentor all the coaches
myself, and the club is so massively successful
as, from the top to the bottom, we’re all
teaching the same way,’ adds Shillingford.

which is now being taken up by schools across
the country.

© Q Shillingford

They could become a boxing tutor or a
competitive boxer but, more importantly, they
feel part of the club.’