The Space programme, commissioned by the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office, is delighted to announce its latest ‘Champion’ – local boxer Amy Nolan.
In 2018, at the age of 13, Amy attended her first summer Space programme session in the Stafford Right Stuff Boxing Gym, having joined the Right Stuff Project nine months earlier.
While taking part in the sessions and working towards her national boxing qualifications, Amy disclosed to her coach, Andy Whitehall MBE, that she was experiencing difficulties at home. Thanks to the club’s involvement, Amy was able to move to a new home and provided with additional support.
In 2019, Amy returned to the Space programme to train as a boxing tutor, which resulted in her joining the Right Stuff Coaching team and delivering training to over 100 young people. Although her personal circumstances had improved a lot by this time, Amy disclosed that she had an eating disorder which had developed because of her traumatic domestic situation.
Amy has returned to the Space programme every summer, helping hundreds of young people to experience the very best of Space – a happy, safe environment to help them learn something new, get fit and feel supported. Her unique life experiences, combined with attending trauma-informed practice and mental health support training, have given her an amazing skillset helping her to connect with and support young people who have, and who are experiencing, trauma in their lives.
Amy’s boxing career has gone from strength to strength and she has since taken part in over 45 boxing contests. In 2023 she won a Youth National Title and was selected to box for England, winning the Box Am Tournament in Spain in May 2023. Amy is also studying A-level Chemistry, Maths and Psychology, and passed her driving test earlier this year. She is looking forward to Space 2023 and being able to deliver sessions independently. Long term, Amy hopes to be selected for Team GB, go to university and box in the Olympics.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams said: “I am absolutely delighted to have Amy on board as a Space Champion.
“Amy embodies everything that we aim to achieve from the Space programme and we are proud to have played a small part in helping her achieve her dreams.
“Space is all about providing an opportunity for Staffordshire Police and partners to engage with young people who may be going through a difficult time to help nurture, support and develop them.
“Hearing Amy’s story confirms that Space is making a real difference to the lives of our young people and I hope to hear many more stories of growth and determination. Having Amy championing Space can only be positive for the programme.”
Amy said: “Space has been a big part of my life every Summer, in fact it’s been life changing. Its set me on a different path, a path of hope and self-worth. I love coaching and being able to give to others what it gave to me.”
The 18-year-old will represent Space at several events during this year’s summer programme. The summer programme brings together public, voluntary and private sector organisations to provide fun, positive activities for vulnerable young people to help increase their skills, improve their health and wellbeing and create opportunities, while also aiming to reduce levels of anti-social behaviour (ASB).
Since being relaunched, Space has gone from strength to strength, with a 75% reduction in youth ASB during the summer period since 2016. In 2022, almost 11,000 young people, aged between 8 and 17, enjoyed over 2,500 activities.
The Space programme will return between 31 July and 1 September 2023. You can sign up for the Space newsletter to be the first to hear about activities in your area.
