Jazza Dickens has launched a new initiative in Liverpool to help families of addiction.

In partnership with Maverick Stars Trust, 'Jazza in the ComUNITY' is offering a free eight week course to help parents in recovery rebuild relationships with their children.

Having been through issues caused by addiction with his father Colin, the issue is close to Jazza's heart and this initiative is something he has always wanted to do.

“I’ve suffered the effects of years of substance abuse,” Jazza explains. “I want to show people how me and my Dad built our relationship. It’s one thing being inside addiction, it’s another completely different thing being outside of it. It’s worlds apart. It’s hard to function together when all you know is one way.”

The programme will be based at the Derry Mathews Boxing Academy on the edge of Liverpool city centre. Families will be encouraged to attend the free sessions, aimed at providing exactly the kind of support Jazza longed for when he was a child.

“The parent can feel forgiven. The child will always forgive the parent,” Jazza says, “It’s just having the tools to do it and the support. That’s the main thing. Not only does the child need to feel they’re cared for and loved and they can go forward with their life, but the parent can also do that too.”

Happily, Colin is now eleven years in recovery and the bond between father and son is evident as they laugh and chat whilst standing inside one of the boxing rings at the gym located upstairs at Marybone Community Centre

“We used to play snooker one day a week to help build our relationship,” Colin says. “When you come into the real world after you stop using, you’re faced with ‘who am I?’ You’re faced with shame and guilt and lots of sadness at how you behaved.  You’re hit with the reality that your son witnessed all this stuff.”

Colin’s story is one of pain and regret, but also love. After several stays in detox units, it was a dramatic turn of events that eventually led to his moment of clarity and the long road to getting clean.

“I’d walked out of six detoxes,” he says with a shrug. “That last time I had a house fire. I was in hospital for three days and I came back home to my house and the windows were burnt out upstairs and I sat there thinking, ‘what’s become of my life?’

“Jazza, he’d moved out by now as I’d moved to another level of addiction. All the boxing England stuff and trophies went up in that fire, didn’t they lad!’” Colin says, turning and smiling at Jazza. “All the boxing stuff you won; it all went in that fire. I can remember crying, thinking, ‘what next? What else am I going to lose?’

For more information, contact Colin Dobie on 07450 268161 or colindobie2099@live.co.uk

Each Friday we pay homage to a boxing ‘unsung hero’. The lifeblood of the sport - the men and women who have contributed so much and asked for so little, who have saved lives and transformed futures.

This week it's the turn of Peter Hayes, nominated by friend of Maverick Stars Trust Derry Mathews

Peter managed England's boxing squad at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and was part of the country's elite set up in some capacity for over 20 years.

Nominate your boxing unsung hero via the contact page at:

www.maverickstars.co.uk

Or message us via:

@maverickstars1                     maverickstarstrust

Each Friday we pay homage to a boxing ‘unsung hero’. The lifeblood of the sport - the men and women who have contributed so much and asked for so little, who have saved lives and transformed futures.

This week it's the turn of Chorley ABC coach Reece Bretherton, amateur trainer of future world title challenger Jack Catterall.

Reece first became involved in boxing in 1961 and has been working in the sport every since.

Since then he has gone on to coach at Chorley ABC, North West Counties and England Schoolboys, as well as taking squads to Denmark and Russia.

"Reece is in his eighties now and still going down to the gym a couple of nights a week," said Jack.

"It's never been about praise for Reece. I spent eight years training with him and the discipline and life lessons he has installed in me, I hope I can pass them on to the next generation."

Nominate your boxing unsung hero via the contact page at:

www.maverickstarstrust.co.uk

Or message us via:

@maverickstars1         maverickstarstrust

Jazza Dickens has at last been given a date for his maiden world title shot against former opponent Kid Galahad.

The fight takes place on August 7th at Matchroom Boxing's fight camp, almost eight years after Dickens suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of the Sheffield fighter in 2013.

Jazza, who is working on an initiative to help families of addiction with Maverick Stars Trust, believes the time is right for him to finally get his hands on major honours.

"By fighting the only man to have me on the floor, that redemption story is something that makes it more exciting," he said.

"I'll show my family and supporters what it takes, the hard work it takes to turn something around like that and believe in yourself. If you keep believing in yourself, you can do anything you want."