William praised after inspirational visit to sporting charity for young people

A female boxer who escaped gangs and drugs through sport and inspired her father to form a youth charity has praised the Prince of Wales for an inspirational visit.

William toured Swindon-based charity Best – Be A Better You, founded by Don Bryden, and learnt about his efforts, along with wife Sarah and daughter Jess, to support the social, emotional and mental health issues of the next generation with sporting activities.

But the future king, who boxed during his time in the military, turned down an offer to spar with Ms Bryden, 18, after watching her powerful punching in the ring.

Ms Bryden was 14 when her involvement with gangs and drug-taking came to a head and she was removed from Swindon for her own safety by her family after overdosing.

After she told William about her troubled earlier years, he said: “Takes a lot to turn it around, it’s not easy.”

He added: “You’ve shown your strength of mind.”

Now a part-time boxing mentor with the charity, Ms Bryden described the effect of the royal visit: “This is more for the kids to see he’s there to support them. This is good for Best but more importantly the individuals who are suffering, never in their lives will they experience something like this again.”

William spoke to children who spend part of their school week at the charity and the volunteers working alongside permanent staff.

Speaking about the effect of providing football and boxing in a mentoring setting for young people, he said: “Sometimes we have a young kid and they’ll walk in with a hoodie, covered up and they’re gangster or want to be classed as gangster.

“But I tell you what, 25 to 30 minutes into the session and the child comes back out. What we’ve got here is a kid going to an adult and missing out their teenage years. That, I think, is one of the biggest and most important things we were lacking – let these kids be kids.”