News

Due to the recent restrictions announced by the First Minister, the following areas will move to level 4 from Friday 20^th November 2020.

These council areas are the City of Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling, and West Lothian. The measures began at 1800 on Friday, will be in place for three weeks, and are due to be lifted on 11^th December.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also announced that travel restrictions will be put into law to prevent people who live in a Level 3 or Level 4 local authority area from travelling outside their local authority except for an essential purpose – such as essential work or caring responsibilities. The regulations are also in force for non-essential travel into a Level 3 or 4 local authority area, except for the same reasons.

With Covid-19 cases increasing at an alarming rate this measure is an attempt to arrest the increase and we appreciate your adherence to the new regulations.

For clubs out with these Health Boards, boxing activity can continue according to current Boxing Scotland Version 12 guidance.

The business support grant is now available and is based on the rateable value of the business is registered for non-domestic rates  – if you pay rates through a landlord rather than directly to a  local authority you can still apply but must provide evidence through a copy of the lease agreement.  The process will be controlled by the local authority. How-to-apply click here

Further information on the Business Support grants can be found at the following link. Scottish Government coronavirus-covid-19-strategic-framework-business-fund

Please find attached a link to Funding opportunities that remain open through the Scottish Council for Voluntary organisation.

SCVO Support Coronavirus Funding

We would urge Club COVID Co-ordinators to read the BSL-COVID-19-OVERVIEW-GUIDANCE-v-12 and check what is permitted in your local authority.  Please find the postcode finder at the following link Gov.Scot Postcode checker

We continue to thank and praise our clubs and membership during this unprecedented period as you continue to follow the published guidelines.  It is a testament to you that our sport has remained safe since restrictions have been lifted.

Boxing Scotland

A reminder that our Anonymous Equality Survey remains open for anyone that has yet to complete a copy.

Boxing-Scotland-Ltd-Equality-Survey-Guidance

Boxing Scotland Ltd remains committed to making Boxing open and accessible to all. This will be accomplished by upholding the principles of equality in all aspects of our work. We will audit and monitor our business activities regularly, and take appropriate steps if it appears that our commitment to equality is not being delivered effectively.

ADULT (18+) SURVEY LINK

We are currently collecting data on the profile of our staff (paid and unpaid), coaches, officials, board, members and participants in terms of equality. This is the Adult (18+) survey link  Adult 18+ Survey Link

UNDER 18 SURVEY LINK

We are currently collecting data on the profile of our coaches, officials, board, members and participants in terms of equality. This is the under 18 survey link  Under 18 Survey Link

We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone that has taken the time to complete a survey.  To date, we have 300 plus surveys recorded. 

Without this data, it will not be possible to identify any current areas of under-representation or potential inequalities, and as such, it will make it much more difficult for us to tackle these issues.

Dear Members,

Thank you to everybody who attended this week’s Development Roadshow presentation via Zoom.

This was the second time that we had delivered a Development Roadshow and we are delighted to see that there were clubs from across all three Districts represented.

The Roadshow covered the following topics;

1. Structure of Boxing Scotland and the role of Regional Development Officers.

2. An update on Covid-19 Compliance.

3. Answers from survey responses/members questions following the first Development Roadshow event.

4. Q & A

A feedback survey has been sent to those who attended the presentation to gauge feedback on the event, and also to discover what topics clubs would like us to present on for the next Development Roadshow which will be delivered in early 2021.

For anyone who was unable to attend the Roadshow, please find below a document detailing the key information that was delivered;

Development-Roadshow-Presentation-No2-Information-and-Links.

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

Dear Members,

Boxing Scotland will be hosting our second ever Development Roadshow event on Wednesday.

These Roadshows are our opportunity to provide you with direct information about selected topics.

The Roadshows are open to all Coaches, Delegates and Working Officials of affiliated Boxing Scotland clubs.

The Agenda will be as follows;

1. Structure of Boxing Scotland and the role of Regional Development Officers.

2. An update on Covid-19 Compliance.

3. Answers from survey responses/members questions following the first Development Roadshow event.

4. Q & A

Due to the current situation this Roadshow will be held via ZOOM.

Delivery time;

Wednesday 11^th November (7:30pm).

Log-in details for the meeting will not be shared publicly for security reasons, so if you wish to attend please e-mail your Regional Development Officer by 5pm on Wednesday 11th November.

If you have never used Zoom before, here is a short Youtube video on how to join a meeting; https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=34&v=hIkCmbvAHQQ&feature=emb_logo

Regards,

The Boxing Scotland Regional Development Team

NORTH REGION RDO – Ben Holme  –
ben.holme@boxingscotland.org.uk

EAST REGION RDO – Stewart Ferguson –
Stewart.ferguson@boxingscotland.org

WEST REGION RDO – Paul Coleman –
paul.coleman@boxingscotland.org

Dear Members,

The Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland’s Strategic Framework and the Protection Levels Framework updated in October 2020 came into force at 0600 Monday 2nd November 2020.  Please see the latest Boxing Scotland guidance at the link;

BSL-COVID-19-OVERVIEW-GUIDANCE-v-11

We would like to ensure that Clubs are aware of the latest changes, as of 0600 Monday 2^nd November if your club is in one of the following protection levels you will be able to do the following:  

Levels 1, 2 and 3  – Sports and exercise

• all permitted except age 18+ (ADULT) indoor contact sports (professional permitted)

Clubs can now conduct Pad work and Sparring for under 18s.  These are the most significant and positive changes to date.  Please ensure you are aware of these changes and the Protection Level that your local authority has currently been given.  It is important to ensure clubs respond to any changes to their local authority protection Level as these can move up and down the scale.

 You can use this postcode checker to confirm which protection level your club is in.  Please see the link below. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19): local protection levels.

Praise undoubtedly goes to member clubs, who have and continue to work hard to follow the latest guidance and have gone above and beyond the requirement to ensure Clubs and Gyms remain a safe environment for individuals to participate in physical activity.

We would like to thank our partners that have continued to support us through this process.  We remain committed to working with the Scottish Government, sportscotland and wider partners to progress plans for the return of sport and physical activity when it is has been safe to do so. We will continue working tirelessly and collaboratively with the sector to develop strong guidance that will allow the necessary protocols to be put in place, providing members and staff with the confidence to return to gyms.  The situation has been an extremely difficult period for us all in the sport of boxing.

We would like to recognise this close working relationship between sportscotland and Boxing Scotland which will continue to work hard to ensure our and the voices of our membership are heard. 

It is now seven months since COVID-19 was first detected in Scotland. This new Strategic Framework sets out how the Scottish Government will work to suppress the virus and presents an honest reflection of the decisions they will need to make. This will be the first major change from the Scottish Government and will mean restrictions will be placed upon the local authorities through the different Protection Levels Framework.

To best tackle the virus, and protect people, The Scottish Governments strategic approach to outbreak management is based on five levels of protection. While it is important to always retain some flexibility, this will provide a more transparent and easily understood framework for managing outbreaks and allow rapid but proportionate responses to be taken – locally or nationally – using a range of measures and options. A levels approach also allows the Scottish Government to respond on a national basis if required, but also to avoid a ‘one size fits all’ approach if it is not. It will mean that one part of the country with low rates of infection does not have to live with the level of protective measures designed to suppress the virus in areas with much higher rates.

The five protection levels consist of four levels above the Route Map Phase 3 baseline (or ‘Level 0’). They are designed to achieve progressively stronger effects in suppressing the virus. It is possible to move up and down levels.

It is the responsibility of the Club COVID Co-ordinator to ensure the Club and Coaches are aware of the local authority level (either 0-4) which the club resides in and ensure the appropriate measures are in place to ensure the safety of its members.

We all continue to share a common responsibility; to ensure the safety of our boxers, coaches, officials, and their families.

Please continue to stay safe.

Boxing Scotland

Dear Members,

The coronavirus pandemic has been an extremely difficult time for all over the past few months, and it is becoming increasingly clear that this has been particularly tough on people’s mental wellbeing.

To support coaches and volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic as we return to sport and physical activity, the sportscotland Coaching Team have developed an e-Learning module to help expand knowledge and understanding of mental health and wellbeing.

Please find a link below to this free of charge training course:

COVID-19 Mental Health and Wellbeing Awareness for Coaches and Volunteers

By completing the module learners will:

• expand their knowledge and understanding of mental health and wellbeing
• recognise the impact that sport and physical activity can have on positive mental health and wellbeing
• identify their own mental health and wellbeing priorities
• explore the effects COVID 19 may have had on them and their athletes/participants

Please note this course will not have a record of completion or certificate.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has announced over £6 million of dedicated funding to create new online and telephone support services, and to increase the capacity of existing services. Building on new initiatives during the pandemic, they are continuing the clear your head campaign which contains a variety of resources and tips to help people take care of their mental health and wellbeing.

For those who need more support the Scottish Government has expanded the NHS24 Mental Health Hub so that it is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and increased the capacity of the Breathing Space telephone helpline.

The Scottish Government has also published Scotland’s Mental Health Recovery and Transition Plan. It prioritises rapid and easily accessible support for those in distress and ensures safe, effective treatment and care of people living with mental illness.

Regards and take care,

Boxing Scotland