AN up-and-coming boxing star has visited a charity for vulnerable people.

Bolton-born Osman Aslam spent some time with the Be Strong project which helps ex-offenders and drug addicts gain employability skills and improve their lives.

He was introduced to the organisation and the work they do and has promised to return after his upcoming fight to share homemade curry with the group.

The 24-year-old will appear on the undercard for the upcoming Amir Khan v Phil Lo Greco fight at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on April 21, where he will wear Be Strong’s logo on his t-shirt and shorts.

He said: “It’s great to be part of Be Strong, who do so much for the community. Having compassion on humanity has always pleased me and motivated me to get involved.

“Darren from Be Strong is the type of guy who will help someone at 3am in the morning. When I saw the work they do and how many people they help it shocked me and I said I’m going to give them my full support in making our community a better place.”

Darren Armstrong, who founded the project, has known of Mr Aslam through the community since the fighter was young.

He has been running the group for nearly eight years and is based in unit one of the Riverside Industrial estate.

He said of the boxers visit: “It went really well, we have already been to two or three of his fights. He spent time to meet everyone which was really important.”

Be Strong puts people up in housing and uses exercise and workouts in the gym to help them focus on positive things and begin to improve their lives.

Mr Armstrong explained: “After three months or so they start to look in the mirror and see changes and that makes them realise what can be done.”

While people are staying at the project they learn to fix washing machines, which are then sold by the group in the community.