The ever present predicament, particularly as the nights lengthen, of providing safe, productive activities for young people is being successfully tackled through the Thai Boxing centre in Bensham Manor, Croydon.

Established in 2009, the Centre's aim has been to help young community members achieve a feeling of self worth, self respect and respect for the community around them.

Offering the opportunity to participate in small friendly classes, working both individually and as part of a team and providing obvious health and fitness benefits, Thai Boxing also focuses on self confidence and discipline. Participants are encouraged to set personal targets thus gaining the satisfaction of achieving a series of goals. In common with many martial arts, the emphasis is as much on the peace, wellbeing and confidence of the mind as on the physical aspect of the sport. However, the physical benefits include total body muscle toning, excellent cardio-vascular endurance, flexibility and improved balance and co-ordination.

The Thai Boxing Community Centre strives to counteract the negatives so many young people are faced with today, generally through no fault of their own, believing that everyone can still fufill their potential if given the opportunity, guidance, support, acceptance, love and a safe place in which to develop.

Appreciating the good work the Thai Boxing Community Centre in Croydon is doing, PC Nick Mondesir, who works on the Bensham Manor Safer Neighbourhoods team, helped the group access £3,000 funding, which are given to local projects that help reduce crime and come from the proceeds of the sale of property police have seized.

PC Mondesir said: "The Thai Boxing Community Centre gives young people in the Thornton Heath area the opportunity to get off the streets and take part in a positive activity, which teaches them, amongst other things, about discipline and self-control. This money will help them continue with their work and provide an excellent facility to the local community. "

To find out more about the Croydon Centre, its facilities and classes, visit the Thai Boxing Community Centre website.