BLACKBIRD LEYS AMATEUR BOXING CLUB 

This project aims to encourage experienced youth boxers and younger seniors to train as coaches, so they can develop leadership skills and engage more extensively in helping to keep the club ....more

This project aims to encourage experienced youth boxers and younger seniors to train as coaches, so they can develop leadership skills and engage more extensively in helping to keep the club sustainable. Funding will contribute towards equipment, promotion, transport, peer mentor training and course fees.

This project will provide women-only taster and beginner sessions. These will focus on fitness, strength and stamina, as well as providing an introduction to boxing basics. Funding will contribute ....more

This project will provide women-only taster and beginner sessions. These will focus on fitness, strength and stamina, as well as providing an introduction to boxing basics. Funding will contribute towards Equipment, Outreach activities, Training, Promotion, Travel. To ensure the sustainability of the project, training will be offered for 2x level 1 coaches to England Boxing level 2 and encourage existing level 2 coaches to undertake relevant level 2 online progression modules.

Boxing has long played a vital and transformative role for people of all ages in countless communities up and down our country, and Blackbird Leys is no exception. In particular it has a real power ....more

Boxing has long played a vital and transformative role for people of all ages in countless communities up and down our country, and Blackbird Leys is no exception. In particular it has a real power to engage with and inspire young people (especially but not exclusively young men) who are otherwise “hard to reach” and/or at risk of making poor life choices that affect themselves, their families, and their communities. In addition to the fitness/physical, self-defence and (for those that choose them) competitive sporting benefits, boxing has a great deal to offer people of all ages, for example: • Setting goals, working towards them, and achieving them • Discipline, focus and persistence • Respect – for self and others • Building confidence • Social and interpersonal skills – boxers box alone in the ring, but behind this lies the enormous value of being part of a club and community. • Relationships – with fellow club members and boxers. Coaches and trainers also play an invaluable role in helping boxers develop in ways beyond boxing ability and fitness alone. • Building skills for personal development – learning skills, problem solving, communication and facing challenges. Clearly, these are powerfully positive outcomes for life, not limited to our sport itself. Case study L is 27 years old and has been coming to our club for 15 years. At first, his dad brought him along because he was getting into trouble and “hanging out with the wrong people”. He had always been a fit young man, but the Club has helped him get healthy too, and provided focus, discipline and direction. L tells us that being a member of the Club has “definitely kept me out of trouble and definitely prevented me doing ‘the stupid stuff’ like getting a criminal record.”

We see the difference our sport and our club makes in people’s lives at every training session. Ordinarily, we run 6 sessions per week for 50 weeks a year, welcoming up to 30-40 people at each ....more

We see the difference our sport and our club makes in people’s lives at every training session. Ordinarily, we run 6 sessions per week for 50 weeks a year, welcoming up to 30-40 people at each session. We are open to children aged 10 and above, with no upper age limit, and welcome all regardless of background, age or gender. Our club, like the sport itself, thrives on long-term commitment, mutual support, self-reliance and excellent teamwork. Why boxing? It has many benefits beyond just the physical benefits of regular exercise and activity: • Setting goals, working towards them and achieving them • Discipline, focus and persistence • Respect – for self and others • Self-defence. • Building confidence and self-esteem • Social and interpersonal skills – boxers box alone in the ring, but behind this lies the enormous value of being part of a club and community. • Relationships – with fellow club members and boxers. Coaches and trainers also play an invaluable role in helping boxers develop in ways beyond boxing ability and fitness alone. • Building skills for personal development – learning skills, problem solving, communication and facing challenges. “J” – Mum of two club members: J (plus Dad) bring their 2 children to the Club, T (girl) aged 10 and M (boy) aged 12. They live in Headington and come because it is local and great value for money. They struggle to afford basics things like food but want to make sure that their children are fit and healthy. The Club helps the children have a good mindset and build confidence: it helps M learn how to control his emotions, and T to tackle her social anxieties. They are convinced that the Club helps kids understand boundaries and good discipline, as well as having fun.