World Boxing Championships pack a punch for local schools and groups

Thousands of people and communities across Liverpool and the North West are set to benefit from an extensive Social Impact Programme developed to complement the forthcoming World Boxing Championships at the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, 4-14 September 2025.

The Social Impact Programme will deliver a range of benefits covering education, health, fitness, wellbeing and community cohesion and is based around a series of initiatives including a literacy programme, training courses, volunteering opportunities, capacity building in boxing clubs and a host of community activations to enable more people to engage in boxing.

Some of the events being delivered as part of the Programme will be attended by boxers from the GB Boxing Olympic programme who hope to compete in the Championships and former Team GB Olympian and two-time professional world champion, Natasha Jonas.

Natasha Jonas said: “Boxing is very important to lots of people in Liverpool, so it is great that hosting the Championships is being used as an opportunity to get people involved in the event and make sure it has a positive impact in schools, communities and clubs.

“Sport is a really powerful way of getting people’s attention and then influencing their behaviour constructively and I am sure that all of the activities in this programme will bring significant benefits and deliver lots of positive impacts in education and learning, creating opportunities for people and improving health, fitness and wellbeing.”

Elements of the Social Impact Programme include:

EDUCATION:

• A specially designed educational programme, Literacy Kicks themed around local boxing heroes, such as Natasha Jonas, which will be delivered in 20 Primary Schools and reach up to 1,200 pupils
• A Secondary school programme delivered in partnership with The Power of Events to demonstrate the impact of major events on the local economy, which will reach over of 100,000 children in the North West

COMMUNITY:

• Working with employment and education charity, Coach Core, to appoint a Coaching Apprentice who will be tasked with delivering more than 1,100 hours of community coaching over an initial 15 months
• Providing training for up to 100 people in schools and community groups to become learn how to deliver England Boxing’s non-contact “Boxing Activator” course that will create opportunities for over 30,000 young people to engage in the sport

• Delivering more than 50 ‘non-contact boxing taster’ sessions to community groups across the Liverpool City Region
• Delivering England Boxing’s “Coaching People with Parkinson’s” course, developed in association with Parkinsons UK, to upskill 20 boxing coaches to be able to deliver non-contact boxing to people with Parkinson’s

BOXING CLUBS:

• Delivering England Boxing accredited courses to qualify 35 coaches and 20 officials and provide training to volunteers on safeguarding, first aid, and needs-led workshops on non-coaching topics such as inclusivity, fundraising and social media promotion – all of which are designed to help build capacity and skills within boxing clubs
• The creation of opportunities for local boxing clubs to engage with the World Boxing Championships 2025 and the delivery of an “Unsung Heroes” programme to recognise members of Liverpool’s boxing community for their work in grassroots clubs and communities

VOLUNTEERING:

• The creation of up to 250 volunteering opportunities for people in the local community and from boxing clubs in the Liverpool City Region to take part in roles at the Championships, learn employment skills and gain work experience
• Anyone interested in volunteering at the event can register their interest at https://www.worldboxingliverpool.com/volunteering

The Social Impact Programme will be delivered by England Boxing with input from Liverpool City Council and is supported by event partner, Brabners, which is a purpose-led independent law firm with has offices in Liverpool and across the North West region

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled that the World Boxing Championships are coming to Liverpool, but even more inspiring is the incredible Social Impact Programme that comes with it. This is about so much more than world-class sport; it’s about connecting with our communities, inspiring young people, and leaving a legacy that will be felt in our schools, clubs and neighbourhoods for years to come. The energy and positivity these championships and this programme will bring to our city is truly exciting.”

Lydia Edgar, Head of Sport at Brabners, added: “As a purpose-led business proudly anchored in the North, we are committed to ensuring major sporting events like the World Boxing Championships deliver a legacy that extends far beyond the arena and make the difference in the communities we serve. This Social Impact Programme will provide meaningful opportunities for communities across Liverpool to engage with sport in a way that promotes wellbeing, inclusion and education. By supporting initiatives that equip local people with new skills, inspire young learners and empower grassroots organisations, we hope to continue demonstrating not just the transformative power of sport but the role business can play in bringing about positive and last change.”

Louise Vidor, England Boxing’s Club & Community Manager (North) said: “The World Boxing Championships coming to Liverpool presents a unique opportunity to leave a lasting legacy far beyond the ring. At England Boxing, we’re proud to lead a Social Impact Programme that strengthens our grassroots clubs, empowers the volunteers involved and uses the power of boxing to bring a diverse range of communities together. Through education, boxing activation and inclusive participation, we’re building pathways for young people and creating real, positive change across the city and the wider North West.”

More than 500 men and women from over 60 countries will compete in the World Boxing Championships which is the biggest Olympic-style boxing event to be held in the UK since London 2012. It will feature competition in 10 weight classes for men and women and be the first time ever that male and female boxers have competed in Olympic-style boxing at the same event for the title of World Boxing Champion.

Tickets for the Championships are on sale at https://ticketquarter.co.uk/2025worldboxingchampionships/Online/default.asp             

Prices start at £15 for Adults and £5 for Concessions (U16, OAPs, Students and those in receipt of benefits). A “buy 10, get one free” offer is available for group bookings. Groups can book directly with official ticket retailer, Ticket Quarter, on 0344 561 7672 or groups@ticketquarter.co.uk.

Liverpool has a long history of staging major international events and was selected as the host of the inaugural World Boxing Championships following a successful bid that was developed by a group of partners which comprised England Boxing, GB Boxing, Liverpool City Council and the M&S Bank Arena, with the support of the National Lottery and UK Sport. Event partners are Sting, Nike Boxing, Brabners, the Liverpool Bid Company and Visit Liverpool.