Ben Holme

Dear Members,

Boxing Scotland is delighted to announce that seven affiliated clubs have been awarded £500 each to help grow female participation in Boxing. 

The seven clubs were chosen after responding to Boxing Scotland’s request to come up with innovative ways of engaging women and girls in the sport.

Throughout the 2019-20 season, Boxing Scotland engaged more than 1,200 female participants as part of the Woman and Girls Fund Project, after receiving £13,600 from sportscotland to help boost female participation in the sport.

The money for these new projects has come from an underspend in the original Woman and Girls Fund Project budget, after the project was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. 

The seven clubs are;

Antonine Boxing Club (West District)

Bluevale Boxing Club (West District)

Dunfermline Boxing Club (East District)

Elgin Boxing Club (North District)

Glasgow City Boxing Club (West District)

J&L Boxing (East District)

Sheddocksley Boxing Club (North District)

Each club will use the funding to deliver 10 one-hour female-only sessions, which will be free for participants, by March 31st 2021.

The key outcomes for this project are as follows: 

1. More women and girls are participating in sport and physical activity;
2. Evaluation questionnaires are completed at the start and end of project;
3. Must be new participants – can’t be women or girls currently involved with the club;

Meanwhile, six clubs who were involved in the original Woman and Girls Fund project will also continue to deliver female sessions.

Alloa Boxing Club, Bellahouston Boxing Club, Granite City Boxing Club, Highland Boxing Academy, Lochee Boxing Club had planned Regional Female Training Sessions cancelled earlier in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

#SheCanSheWill

These clubs will also deliver a minimum of 10 one-hour female-only sessions, which will be free for participants, by March 31^st 2021.

Dear Members,

Boxing Scotland have funding available to affiliated clubs who can come up with innovative ways of engaging women and girls in the sport of Boxing.

Throughout 2019-20, Boxing Scotland engaged more than 1,200 female participants as part of the Woman and Girls Fund Project, after receiving funds from sportscotland to help boost female participation in the sport.

We are looking for two clubs from each District to deliver 10 one-hour sessions, which will be free for participants. Clubs will be reimbursed with £500 towards coaching and associated cost for delivering the 10 sessions. 

The key outcomes for this project are as follows: 

• More women and girls are participating in sport and physical activity;
• Evaluation questionnaires are completed at the start and end of project;
• Must be new participants – can’t be women or girls currently involved with the club;

Any clubs who wishes to express an interest in this project should contact their RDO by Friday 9^th October.  There is no application process for this, however we would need to know how you intend to engage with a new group of women and girls.  Sessions can be delivered either in person or via video technology. The 10 sessions must be completed by March 31^st 2021.

We anticipate there will be a lot of interest in this project, so priority will be given to those clubs who provide clear idea about what they will do to get women and girls to engage with club. 

Regards,

Boxing Scotland Regional Development Team

North District – Ben Holme, ben.holme@boxingscotland.org 07702 866135

East District – Stewart Ferguson, stewart.ferguson@boxingscotland.org 07944 598755

West District – Paul Coleman, paul.coleman@boxingscotland.org 07803 513699

As you may be aware, following an increase in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Aberdeen, restrictions have been applied by the Scottish Government to the Aberdeen City local authority area.

Information on the new restrictions can be found at the link below;

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-measures/

These restrictions will be reviewed on Wednesday 12^th August.

Just to clarify, boxing clubs in Aberdeen do not have to cease the socially distanced outdoor training that they may have been delivering, in line with the current national guidance. This will be a decision that each club will have to make for themselves if they want to continue this activity at this time.

However, one of the new restrictions to take note of is that people in Aberdeen City are asked not to travel more than 5 miles for leisure or recreational purposes. This may impact on some people’s ability to join outdoor boxing sessions with clubs in Aberdeen or the surrounding area of Aberdeenshire.

Additionally, people from outwith Aberdeen are advised not to travel to Aberdeen for leisure purposes at present. This again may impact on some people’s ability to join in with their club’s outdoor boxing sessions.

Please ensure these guidelines are adhered to and take care.

Regards

Boxing Scotland

Dear Members,

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

As I am sure you can appreciate, this unprecedented time that we find ourselves in remains a fluid situation which is ever changing day to day, week to week.

There has been a lot of guidance already published by Boxing Scotland and this will continue over the coming weeks and months as we manage a route back to boxing’s return.

However, we appreciate that this guidance can be difficult to stay on top of as it is constantly evolving.

To help ensure that clubs are following the correct guidance at the correct time, we are asking that every club nominate a ‘Club COVID-19 Co-ordinator’ who would be the main point of contact within each club for Boxing Scotland and also for their own club members with regards to COVID-19.

This person, who may be a coach or on the committee, would receive up to date information directly from Boxing Scotland and would be responsible for ensuring their club is following the current guidelines.

We kindly ask that all clubs please complete the below ‘Club COVID-19 Co-ordinator Role Descriptor’ and e-mail it to your relevant Regional Development Officer by Friday July 24th 2020.

Regards,

The Boxing Scotland Regional Development Team

North District – Ben Holme, ben.holme@boxingscotland.org 07702 866135

East District – Stewart Ferguson, stewart.ferguson@boxingscotland.org 07944 598755           

West District – Paul Coleman, paul.coleman@boxingscotland.org 07803 513699

NAIRN Boxing Club coach Kevin Brooks has won the inaugural Team Scotland Stars individual award, while Boxing Scotland has finished runners-up in the Group/Organisation category.

Kevin admitted he was shocked to have received the award, which recognised his dedication and selfless actions through the challenging times of the past few months.

With the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic meaning that life is very different for all of us, Team Scotland Stars is a monthly award to recognise those going above and beyond to help others through these difficult times.

The expert judging panel of former First Minister for Scotland, Jack McConnell, badminton star Kirsty Gilmour and Team Scotland Youth Trust Board Director, Denise Holmes had the difficult task of narrowing it down to just four in each of the two categories to go forward to the public vote.

The North District club has been delivering free online Zoom training to the community since the lockdown in March.

“Shocked, I was totally shocked. I didn’t believe it,” the 36-year-old said.

“I haven’t even got a clue who nominated me.

“I was in the garden with my son and my wife came out and said you have won an award.

“I have just been trying to keep active with the local community and make sure the boxers are doing okay.”

As a former soldier who suffered from PTSD, Kevin has also been working with Poppy Scotland over the last few months to help highlight Mental Health issues for ex-servicemen and their families.

The veteran knows only too well how this current situation could be affecting people’s mental health and shares the importance of reaching out, especially when you are feeling low.

He advised: “If you’re struggling to stay positive, get in touch with your mates or track down your former comrades you have served with – this is the time to come together. Find something to do that makes you happy and try to write three things down each day that you are grateful for.”

Kevin beat off competition from James Cairns from Bishopton Military Fitness Club, Lothian Disability Sport Archery Co-ordinator Richard Vallis and City of Edinburgh Volleyball Development Officer Emma Waldie to win the award.

Meanwhile, Boxing Scotland finished as runners-up in the inaugural Team Scotland Stars Group/Organisation category after being noted for our commitment to improving communities physical and mental well-being.

Helping Hands Edinburgh and West Lothian Fencing Club also finished as runners-up, with Falkirk Junior Bike Club picking up the award.