POVERTY & CLASS
How Sports Can Help underprivileged Groups
Sports as a whole stresses the values of fair play and sportsmanship; both are key tools into making a better life for yourself. Sport programs, for adults and young people, play a major role in preventing gang violence, crime, and drug abuse, all prevalent in poverty-stricken areas. Sports allows individuals to learn hard-work, dedication and team working skills, all skills that will benefit any individual in life. The teaching of these values in sport has been known to have many positive attributes to many communities with research indicating that areas that provide after school or community sports activities tend to have a lower level of crime.
deals before his cousin convinced him to try boxing in 2008. Before this, between 2006 to 2010 Joshua had been in trouble with the police multiple times, this included him being on remand in Reading prison for a physical altercation. Joshua has described in many interviews that boxing saved his life and gave him a “second chance at life�; through boxing he learnt all the skills mentioned above that helped him get off the streets to becoming two-time world heavyweight champion. Joshua was a kid who grew up in an estate in Watford, but sports was able to help him move away from a life of crime and poverty which many others fell victim to.
This direct link between sports and crime does not go unnoticed, boxing champion Anthony Joshua is a prime example of the great impact sport can have on an individual. In his teens Joshua was involved in street fights and drug
Charities such as Street Games bring sports to poor communities encouraging a better life for young people within poorer communities in Britain. Street Games was founded in 2007 and provides 800 projects weekly across
32
POVERTY
