News
Working as part of an alliance with other community groups from the area and with the support of the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit, New Bury Boxing is once again providing a positive, accessible sporting offer for local young people.
New Bury and Farnworth ABC was a well-established and much-loved boxing club for many years, with a strong community focus. When the club closed around 2014, so too did the youth club which ran out of New Bury Community Learning Centre, leaving little to do for young people living in the local area.
In 2020, through their ‘community-led approach’ work, Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit invested funds into New Bury as a community in need. Local consultation identified key priorities for the area, which included more positive activities for young people. It was clear that boxing still meant a lot to the community, with a strong desire to re-establish the boxing club.
As part of an alliance with other local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, and with the support of StreetGames, Bolton-based community boxing gym Elite Community Hub received funding to run boxing sessions in New Bury, marking the start of a revived boxing offer for local young people.
The following year, New Bury Boxing was reopened with brand new coaches from the local community, including parents who were keen to support the provision of positive activities for children and young people in the local community. The club has been building up slowly since then, allowing it to become sustainable beyond the initial community-led programme. The community-led alliance continues to go from strength to strength, with collaborative funding applications and delivery and the development of sustainable local partnerships.
On Monday 12th August, New Bury Boxing held a celebration event to mark its third anniversary. More than 20 local young people came along to celebrate all that the club has achieved, with activities including fitness games and a free raffle, with boxing gloves, a 1-2-1 training session and chocolates handed out as prizes. The young people also enjoyed some pizza and cupcakes.
As part of the celebration, the club shared its brand new banner which was put up outside to promote their new timetable. Having initially started with only one weekly session in their first year, the club expanded to four sessions per week in their second year and are now looking forward to offering six sessions per week for young people aged 8-18, with an additional three sessions for over 18-year-olds.
Along with the exciting news of their expanded offer, the club showcased their new boxing equipment which has been funded by Sport England, and were also able to put up the boxing ring which had been purchased through participating in the Hits Radio Cash for Kids Sports Challenge.
The club has also been successful in securing funding from The National Lottery and Bolton’s Fund, enabling them to offer 1-2-1 mentoring and small group sessions called Talk and Train to help young people with social, emotional and mental health issues.
New Bury Boxing club currently has five coaches, all from the area, along with five amateur boxers. The team is actively looking to expand, including encouraging more local parents to get involved by offering training and support into coaching or admin roles.
Comments from young people and parents on the ‘Feedback Wall’ at the celebration event highlight the importance of New Bury Boxing for the local community:
“New Bury Boxing is a place I feel safe and I can talk to the coaches”
“It’s been great for [x], it has given him extra confidence”
“Confidence and fitness level has improved”
“I like New Bury Boxing for the people (coaches) and friends”
