Youth organisation Rise and Thrive teamed up with Hardhitterzuk to bring their famous boxing machine to The Centre, Feltham.
Hardhitterzuk, who have nearly 500,000 followers on Instagram, tour the country and offer £1000 to anyone who can beat the high score of 916.
In light of a recent spate of youth anti-social behaviour, Michelle Odell, 44, from Rise and Thrive hopes events like this can show Feltham in a positive light.
She said: “We want to show that we are a good community who can come together and work as a team.”
In Feltham, the period between schools finishing and parents coming home from work is often rife with anti-social behaviour.
The children committing these acts, which can involve harassment and property damage, are, according to Rise and Thrive, vulnerable to being tapped up by criminals.
Odell began working for the organisation after losing her son who was criminally groomed.
She said: “I just want to save another family from going through the hell I’ve been through.”
As children and adults alike took turns to thrash the punching bag, flyers promoting Rise and Thrive’s many upcoming youth clubs were handed out.
Professional boxer Balraj Khara, who teaches boxing as part of these sessions, noted the positive effect that activities like boxing have on children.
He said: “Before they come in they’re all over the place.
“Afterwards, they become a lot more relaxed, disciplined, and respond better to authority.”
Ultimately, however, neither Khara nor the children were able to beat the high score.
More information about Rise and Thrive’s upcoming youth clubs is available on their Facebook page.
Join the discussion