BYRON Boxing Club have launched a new community ‘Street Boxing’ project in Aberdeen.
Over the last few weeks, the Northfield based club have been taking the sport on the road to some of the most deprived areas of Aberdeen, offering free boxing sessions to those aged 8-18.
The club received sponsorship to help purchase a trailer and equipment, which has allowed them to create a mobile outdoor boxing gym.
Coach Kevin Kerr said the project, which will run throughout the summer and hopefully beyond, will help allow youngsters across the city to get involved in the sport, as well as helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
“We currently have kids from Torry, Tillydrone and Seaton coming to the gym, but it is very hard with buses after school etc for them to come, so we thought we take the boxing club to them,” Kevin explained.
“The initial uptake has been really good. Two or three had previously done boxing, but basically apart from that they have all been beginners, which is good to see.
“Boxing reduces antisocial behaviour in the communities. Generally, when the boxing is on at our gym in Northfield, we find that that reduces the crime in the area that night.
“So we have reached out to these low-income areas and hopefully we can try and spread some positivity through the city.
“Tulloch Recruitment and Team Recruitment sponsored the trailer, and we have also been given funding by Northsound Cash For Kids, who bought the equipment. We have also tied in with TESCO in Woodend, who have donated fruit to the participants.
“We are also planning to deliver three boxing camps with local partners we are tying up with, scattered across this summer.”
The plan with the pioneering project is also to develop new volunteer boxing coaches, with interested young people aged 16-22 going through the process to become a registered Boxing Scotland coach.
“We are glad to be working alongside Boxing Scotland and trying to develop young people to make them better human beings, and with better social skills in the community,” Kevin added.
The Byron Street Boxing Project is being held on alternative Friday’s at the Tillydrone Community Campus, in association with the Lighthouse, and Seaton Community Church 4-6pm, as well as on Tuesday’s 6-7:30pm at the city’s Cruyff Courts, alternating between Catherine Street in central Aberdeen and in Torry, in association with Street Sport and the Denis Law Legacy Trust.
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