Back in November, we awarded the Hertfordshire Sports Partnership a grant of £6,500 to help fund an affordable weekly amateur boxing club in Letchworth for children aged between seven and 15. Five months on, we’ve caught up with the team to see our grant in action.
Once a week up to 20 children gather at The Brotherhood Hall on Gernon Road for a non-contact boxing session led by amateur coach Wayne Armstrong.
Sessions start with some impressive fast paced skipping drills followed by stretches led by one of the older children. Then the fun really starts: as gloves and mitts come out for a series of non-contact routines to teach and improve a number of offensive and defensive moves, with a focus on speed and accuracy. The sessions are fast-paced, professional and a lot of fun.
The group is operated by charity Box Cleva and overseen by Herts Sports Partnership. Supported by the National Lottery and, within Letchworth, the Heritage Foundation, Box Cleva is able to charge just £1.00 per child per session, making the activity accessible to many children within the local community and removing the cost barrier to joining a sports club.
The aim of the Box Cleva is to provide positive male role models and to improve the lives of young people through boxing. Some participants were made aware of the club following a referral by school or other agencies. But what is it about boxing that reaches out where other sports don’t? Coach Wayne believes: “It (boxing) engages kids on their own terms. For some (children) frustration and aggression is part of their everyday life and something they struggle with. Boxing helps with this. It also gives children who may be bad at everything else they’ve tried a sense of worth and self-esteem.”
A glance around the room as the children sit to have a discussion around healthy eating and it’s clear to see that this club is about so much more than just boxing. It’s about discipline, respect, perseverance and fair-play. Alongside healthy eating, drug and alcohol awareness sessions are carried out in every programme, with informal sessions led by external organisations.
Once a term assessments are carried out followed by a presentation evening which means a great deal, not only to the children taking part, but all the coaching staff involved. “We know this club works,” commented Wayne. “We’ve seen young children struggling with a variety of issues come in and across the year really flourish under the guidance of our staff. It’s incredibly rewarding knowing that you’ve helped that child find their feet and develop into a more confident person. We’re incredibly grateful to all our funders who help make this happen.”
Box Cleva runs once a week at the Brotherhood Hall Letchworth. For more information visit: http://www.boxcleva.net/For more information about Letchworth Heritage Foundation’s grant programme visit: http://www.letchworth.com/heritage-foundation/grants
