A new Ipswich-based kickboxing club for girls has been set up after the success of a martial arts project for disadvantaged and socially marginalised young females.

A new Ipswich-based kickboxing club for girls has been set up after the success of a martial arts project for disadvantaged and socially marginalised young females.

Organised by the government's Positive Futures programme, the 'Fit for Life' scheme ran for 12 weeks at the Millennium Martial Arts Centre in Ipswich.

The sessions, which consisted of boxing, self defence, kick-boxing and fitness, were run for young females aged ten to 19.

The sessions were open to girls who were interested in taking part in a positive activity in the evening, with the main aim of giving them the opportunity to learn new skills, burn off aggression and gain from health benefits.

The sessions were organised in stages that participants had to progress through and, at the end of the programme, Kayley Smith, Rebecca Ward and Jessie Smith managed to complete all elements of the award.

The three girls were presented with their trophies and certificates at an end of project awards ceremony.

Project Worker for Positive Futures Paul Knight said: “As well enabling new skills to be learnt, the programme also focused on raising the self esteem of the young people involved in the programme.

“The coaches delivering the sessions were able to build up the confidence levels of the young people using the four activities, within a relaxed, friendly environment.”

Positive Futures is a national sports, arts and activity based social inclusion programme, funded by the Home Office's crime and drug strategy directorate and managed by Crime Concern.

The programme aims to use sport and other activities as a catalyst to encourage participants to make decisions for themselves and take self-determined steps towards a positive future.

Steering young people towards educational and employment opportunities is at the heart of the programmes agenda.

The young people involved in the Ipswich martial arts programme had all been referred to the project by various agencies working with young people, who recognised the impact sport can have on a young person's life.

Knight added: “As a result of the success of this project, and after speaking with the girls involved, we are now looking to turn the session into a more formal kickboxing class.

“Once again we'll be inviting females aged ten to 19 to attend. We hope that the original group of girls will stay in the programme and use the experience they have gained where they can now work through a syllabus and attend gradings as well increasing levels of confidence, fitness and self-esteem.”

The new club will run on a Monday evening at the Millennium Martial arts centre. For further information regarding this session or the Positive Futures project in general please call Paul Knight on: 07717 290545 or e-mail: paul.knight@yots.suffolkcc.gov.uk.