A FORMER Bury College student and qualified personal trainer is helping to improve the confidence of women after introducing his own women's self-defence classes.

Tom Cox, aged 22, launched the classes at Scorpion Jujitsu, Bury Martial Arts Academy, in Victoria Street, in November 2015 with the aim of creating exercise which was tailored to women and helping to keep them safe.

Mr Cox, who delivers these classes - the only women's self-defence classes in the area – in partnership with the ‘I Will If You Will’ campaign.

He said: “I wanted to create a class which would help people and educate them about personal protection.

“It has been great to see so many women grow in confidence and I have really enjoyed delivering the classes.”

‘I Will If You Will’ aims to help women and girls in Bury to get more active, more often and have fun while they do it.

Funded by Sport England and delivered by Bury Council, the initiative hopes to help women get together and try something new.

Sara Burns from Rossendale, who has been attending the women's self-defence classes since November 2015, said: “I love these classes, they're great as I have made new friends and learnt how to protect myself.”

Mr Cox, the former Little Lever School pupil completed his Bury College Level 3 Creative Media diploma in 2012 before progressing on to Birmingham City University.

He completed his first year before gaining his Personal Training qualification in December 2013.

Mr Cox now splits his time between delivering personal training sessions at The Hub in Radcliffe and Scorpion Jujitsu.

He added: “I loved my time at Bury College.

“I developed lots of great skills such as using Photoshop which I now put into practise all the time to promote and market my classes and services.”