Community funding sees Leicester boxing club go the distance

Published by SanH for Sanctuary Housing Association in Communities and also in Health

Volunteers from a Leicester boxing club are celebrating after being awarded a share of £60,000 through Sanctuary Housing’s Grand Ideas Fund.

The £1,000 grant from the housing provider’s nationwide funding scheme will enable Unity Boxing Gym to extend its work in the community, providing specialist training to an additional 20 youngsters from the local area. 

Unity Boxing Gym is one of just 60 community groups across England set to benefit from Sanctuary’s Grand Ideas Fund, which was launched in September 2011.  The fund awards up to £1,000 to groups that need financial backing to deliver activities within their local neighbourhood.  

For the last two years, Unity Boxing Gym has provided boxing sessions to children, young people and adults from three of the most deprived council wards in Leicester, Abbey, Beaumont Leys and Stocking Farm.

Thanks to the much-needed financial boost, a host of brand new equipment - from gloves to boxing bags - will be bought.

Chair and founder of Unity Boxing Gym – which has recently been awarded Amateur Boxing Association status - Ajmal Butt, said: “Boxing means a lot to me and to all of the volunteers who work at the club.  We are really passionate about sharing this positive experience with children growing up around here.

“It means so much to us to be able to continue what we love doing and train even more people.  We can’t thank Sanctuary enough for this generous donation.”

Christa Ripley, regional manager for Sanctuary Housing, which manages over 700 homes across Leicester, added: “It is clear that the Unity Boxing team has a real passion for the community and is very much committed to inspiring the neighbourhood’s youngsters and adults through boxing.

“We are pleased to have been able to offer a helping hand and to make sure that the club can continue its wonderful work in the local area.”

With £60,000 set aside for projects nationwide, the Grand Ideas Fund is open for applications from charities, resident groups and voluntary organisations until March 2012.

The scheme is designed to support as wide a variety of projects as possible – from youth activities to the improvement of community facilities.  

For more details or an application form, contact Sanctuary’s Community Investment team on 01905 334271 or email peter.hoarle@sanctuary-housing.co.uk.