THE latest cohort of young people graduated from Martin Murray's Think Fast Academy yesterday afternoon, but it's here "where the real work starts" the former boxing champion said.
The Academy, set up by Martin and his wife Gemma in 2020, uses boxing as a tool to prevent young people with limited opportunities from getting involved in crime.
However, the programme goes much deeper than this and tries to get the often badly-behaved kids to think about their actions, understand their emotions, and be educated on the consequences of crime.
While boxing is used as a means to release their frustration, the programme is not trying to create the next boxing star, Martin tells me, but rather to "build good people".
Following a condensed five-week programme due to the summer holiday break, seven youngsters graduated from the Academy at the Wildcard boxing gym in Parr on Tuesday, July 19.
Praised on the work they have achieved so far, the young people were also treated to guest speeches from Paul Holden, the Chief Inspector of St Helens Police, and the Mayor of St Helens Sue Murphy.
Martin, originally from Fingerpost, said: "It's great to see how far these lads have come and really do feel like we are getting somewhere with them.
"Knowledge is power so by educating them in different areas and helping them to understand their emotions, you start to see their barriers coming down - and it's here where the real work starts."
By providing this extra layer of support, Martin explained that the majority of their pupils go on to report much better improvements in behaviour and attendance at school.
It is hoped that these improvements continue, and the Academy can act as a long-term project in preventing young people from getting involved in crime.
Two of this year's graduates, Josh Yates and Blake Atherton, agreed that the Academy has been beneficial and given them the skills to improve their attitudes, learning, and behaviours.
Describing the Academy course as "brilliant", Blake said he would "recommend it to anyone".
Focusing on the Academy since his retirement from boxing in 2020, Martin now plans to expand the project in St Helens and Warrington to reach as many young people as possible.
He added: "I'm born and bred in St Helens and it's an area that's very close to my heart, so I wanted to get this up and running here.
"It's not a miracle programme and there's no reward for bad behaviour, as we won't allow them back on to the course.
"But we are trying to build good people and raise their awareness about different things.
"Not everyone is going to be a boxer but we can lift their aspirations to be better people."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here