Charlotte joined boxer Barry McGuigan and sports television personality Jim Rosenthal to launch the All Party Parliamentary Group for Boxing.

Sports Minister Hugh Robertson and some GB Olympic boxers also attended the launch of the group.

Charlotte has long held an interest in boxing and its power to transform lives. She has enjoyed boxing training since a teenager, when she trained at Spanniourum Farm Gym, and is the President of Avonmouth National Smelting Boxing Club in her Bristol North West constituency.

“I am immensely proud to be the president of Avonmouth National Smelting Club,” Charlotte said. “Seeing what they do made me want to bring appreciation of what boxing can do for young people to a national audience, and other MPs. In so many ways, amateur boxing really is ‘The Big Society’.

“I have seen first hand the benefits of boxing in giving young people a sense of discipline, respect, self-esteem and the ability to walk away from a fight – both from my own experience boxing, and in what clubs like the National Smelting Club are doing.

“As well as giving the Smelting Club the credit they deserve, I’m delighted that another Bristol success story will be on the stage, Filton and the work they do with advanced apprenticeships.

“The group has had really great support and I’m so grateful to people like our Olympians, Jim Rosenthal and Barry McGuigan for making it such a special event. This will also be a great event for Bristol, and Bristol’s boxing.”

To see a video of the event, including an interview with Charlotte, please click on the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_F6HzKNEGc