A group of BA (Hons) Film Production students from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) organised a sold-out charity boxing event to raise money for their graduate film and for C.A.M. Club Youth Boxing, a charity set up to help underprivileged children in West Howe access free boxing lessons and raise awareness on the dangers of carrying knives.
Bournemouth Student Fight Night was organised by Max Maguire, a third-year student on the BA (Hons) Film Production course at AUB, with a total of 20 students participating, from both AUB and its neighbouring institution, Bournemouth University (BU).
Max explains the idea stemmed from his interest in influencers and YouTube boxing matches.
“It’s beneficial to support the sport of boxing by bringing more eyes to it," he says, "but also it encourages people to have the confidence to it themselves one day."
Max approached Marc Smith, a boxing coach mentoring young people, in early October about wanting to host an event.
“I’m forever indebted to him because there was no way I could have pulled it off without him,” Max says.
Marc put the team in touch with the Henry Brown Centre, which hosts affordable boxing classes for young people as part of Changes Are Made (C.A.M.)
C.A.M. was set up to campaign against knife crime after 18-year-old Cameron Hamilton was fatally stabbed in Bournemouth town centre.
Max explains they were originally going to support a national mental health charity, but instead chose to help a local organisation.
“I met some of the kids [at the youth boxing] and they were so excited to be able to watch a boxing event for the first time. It encouraged me to want to support them.
“I knew I was biting off a bit more than I could chew because I decided to not only organise the entire event single-handedly but also box someone!"
Tracy Jose, grandmother of Cameron Hamilton and founder of C.A.M., says, “We’re so grateful for the support in raising awareness of the dangers and possible life‑changing consequences of carrying a knife. It just shows - together Changes Are Made.”
