Boxing legend and mental health campaigner Frank Bruno MBE has endorsed a sports mentoring programme which is helping unemployed young people from tough London housing estates get their lives back on track.

The former heavy weight world champion was joined by Tower Hamlets Cabinet Member Cllr Sabina Akhtar and 15 young Londoners as they celebrated graduating from the Street Elite project.

Yasin, a 2018/19 graduate said:

Before Street Elite I was just hanging around outside on the street doing nothing with my time or sitting at home watching TV bored.

Since joining Street Elite, I have enjoyed making new friends and have something positive to focus on. After Street Elite I’d like to go back to playing regular sports and I’m looking to get into accountancy.

Frank Bruno MBE said:

I grew up in London. It can be a tough city and talented young people can go off the tracks. Street Elite is about giving them a focus and real self-belief.

It’s a life-changing project and shows the huge power of sport and mentoring. Together they can strengthen your mind, your self-esteem and connect you with other people. It’s important for young men to come together and talk openly about their wellbeing.

Run by The Change Foundation, with support from the Berkeley Foundation, this nine-month sports-themed training for work initiative has now engaged with 400 unemployed young Londoners – with 84% of those who complete the programme successfully moving into education or employment.

Photo: Boxing legend and mental health campaigner Frank Bruno MBE joined young Londoners as they celebrated graduating from the Street Elite programme.