Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I’ve chosen to use my short debate today to highlight the amazing work undertaken by a little-known charity in my region, Bulldogs Boxing & Community Activities. The Bulldogs use the power of boxing to involve, educate and inspire young people and their families across Wales, and within Neath Port Talbot in particular, through a broad, five-pillar personal development programme. Based in Baglan, the Bulldogs boxing and community development centre is inspirational, motivating and extraordinary from the moment you enter. It is a centre of opportunity for young people and their families at a time when many other facilities, particularly public sector services, are closing. It brings people together and makes an outstanding and lasting difference to local people’s lives. It is the first of its kind in Wales and is a member of the prestigious Fight for Peace global alumni partnership, which uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities affected by crime and violence.

The Bulldogs five-pillar programme is open to everyone in the community. It is a mix-and-match personal development programme designed to suit individuals. Each of the pillars can be accessed at any time, using as much or as little support as needed. The programme is open to employed and unemployed people regardless of where they live. The main focus of Bulldogs is people under the age of 30, although support is available for all ages. Many of these people come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the Bulldogs believe every person can achieve success with the right guidance, support and motivation, which are available within the five pillars.

The five-pillar programme is an action plan chosen by the persons themselves and made up of: personal development, which uses mentoring and motivation to help build confidence, and teaches life skills and core values by encouraging individuals to take up volunteering; open access, which allows young people free access to the gym and after-school clubs; education, employment and training, which offers employment support, including job-related training and access to local employers and work placements; fitness and boxing to suit every level of fitness and skill; and support services, which bring together multiple agencies.

The five-pillar programme has been adapted to work with specific groups over and above the Bulldogs’ main target group, which includes the Bulldogs employability pathway—a partnership with Jobcentre Plus. They provide extensive employment and training support from their dedicated employability pillar. This is a very successful arm of the Bulldogs and is growing week on week, with success for all ages. Bulldogs well-being: tailored exercise and nutrition programmes creating a healthier community. This is something for everyone at the Bulldogs, starting from the most basic form of exercise up to a high-intensity programme. Bulldogs/SSAFA armed forces drop-in: this is a multi-agency approach to helping those who have served or are currently serving within the armed forces. They also help young people into the services through their employability pathway. Bulldogs laces group: a partnership with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council’s looked-after children’s education services, providing social, emotional and behavioural skills change. Young offenders: a partnership with western bay youth justice, creating exit strategies for young offenders, and using the discipline of boxing to help steer young offenders away from future crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Bulldogs provides a platform for over 30 organisations working in partnership to provide a fighting chance in life for the next generations in and around the Port Talbot areas of the Swansea bay region. I am sure Members will agree with me that their work is truly impressive, as are their results. The Bulldogs first came to my attention because of the work they do with SSAFA, the armed forces charity. My husband, since leaving the army, has been a huge supporter of SSAFA, and helps work to assist ex-service personnel adapt to life on civvy street. He also works with PTSD sufferers, and through this work we became aware of the Bulldogs gym.

The Bulldogs work with service personnel and others suffering with PTSD, offering a safe and friendly environment for sufferers to talk with one another about their experiences, and allowing them to work together to cope with the condition. The Bulldogs work with partner agencies to assist PTSD sufferers. Studies have shown that high intensity sports such as boxing can help manage their PTSD symptoms, and with the Bulldogs gym, PTSD sufferers get access to these sports, as well other people suffering from the condition. The Bulldogs also help those who have served or are currently serving within the armed forces by offering drop-in sessions for the armed forces and veterans.

By bringing like-minded people together, the Bulldogs are helping ex-service personnel cope with the transition to civilian life. As an added benefit, veterans at the gym can help young people who are thinking of joining the armed forces. Many of these young people come from disadvantaged backgrounds and the Bulldogs help them achieve their full potential by providing support and guidance, along with motivation. This approach is also used to steer young offenders away from the youth justice system. The discipline that boxing instils is proven to help steer young offenders away from criminal activity and anti-social behaviour. These benefits aside, increasing physical activity amongst young people is the major benefit of the Bulldogs gym.

As I have said several times, it is a matter of national shame that nearly two thirds of Welsh adults and a third of Welsh children are overweight or obese. We have to do all that we can to increase physical activity amongst young people and children. The Bulldogs gym offers free access to the gym and its facilities to young people during the afternoons, as well as running an after-school drop-in club. By offering these facilities, the Bulldogs help to tackle the obesity crisis head on.

In a recent Health, Social Care and Sport Committee consultation, the British Medical Association highlighted the need to increase access to sporting activities—the opportunities to exercise and undertake leisure pursuits. The BMA estimates that the cost of physical inactivity in Wales is around £650 million per year. Facilities such as those provided by the Bulldogs enable the local community to exercise in a safe and supported environment. They do all this with little public sector support, relying mainly on their charitable activities.

I am extremely grateful to Bulldogs for providing this opportunity to my constituents, but as UKIP’s shadow secretary for health and well-being, I want to see people in the rest of Wales enjoy similar benefits. I would like to see the Welsh Government work with Bulldogs Boxing and Community Activities to explore how this programme can be replicated across the country.

Let’s ensure that every young person in Wales has access to the five-pillar programme. Let’s give young offenders from across the nation a pathway out of crime and anti-social behaviour. Let’s help all our veterans cope with transition to civilian life, and let’s ensure that those living in our towns and cities have access to a Bulldogs of their very own. Diolch yn fawr. Thank you.