News

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

Dear Members,

We would like to bring you an update on the upcoming National Novice Championships scheduled for 17^th & 18^th and 24^th & 25^th October 2020. 

After a detailed consultation with various partners including the Boxing Scotland Medical Commission and the management at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility we have taken the decision to reschedule and move the National Novice Championships to 30^th & 31^st January and 6^th & 7^th February 2021.

Notwithstanding the increasing rate of COVID-19 transmission and in line with the Scottish Government indicative date of 5^th October for a “return to indoor contact sport”. As the governing body, we have a responsibility to ensure the health and wellbeing of all of our members and volunteers and believe rescheduling these championships now is appropriate.

As a result of rescheduling the Novice Championships, we will be unable to hold the National Intermediate Championships this season. 

Whilst we appreciate that this is not an ideal situation please be assured that we are as ever, working as hard as we can to ensure that as a sport we are not disadvantaged in our return to competition and have been encouraged by the support received from clubs with regards to maintaining hygiene standards and following published guidelines with feedback from RDOs being that most clubs are going above and beyond what is expected. 

As we move closer to the new National Novice Championships date of 30^th & 31^st January and 6^th & 7^th February 2021 we will issue further guidance on sanitary provisions required by all attending the event. Whereby we anticipate that competing boxers will be required to use their own bandages, head guards and gloves (head guards and gloves must be AIBA licensed equipment).

Once again, we thank you for your continued understanding and support.

Best regards

Boxing Scotland

Dear Members,

We would like to take the opportunity to thank the membership for your continued support and patience with our phased return to Boxing during this unprecedented period. While we welcome today’s announcement in relation to the phased return of sport, we recognise the very real difficulties the sector is currently facing and the impact this pandemic is continuing to have on participation, employment, finances and facilities.  We will continue to engage with all partners to ensure that the concerns of the sector are heard and understood.

Recent figures serve as a timely reminder that the virus has not gone away and we are still dealing with a public emergency.  Although it has taken time to get our sport back into gyms all be it in a limited role at present, we are in a privileged position compared to other sectors that we are still operating and able to operate as a sport.

We would like to 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.

We are aware of the impact this is having on the physical and mental health of individuals and finances of the Clubs.  However as we are currently seeing with an increase in cases, if we do not follow the guidelines, we could face further restrictions, resulting in a greater impact and further delay to when we can provide competitive boxing again.

Across the sector, we share a desire to build on recent progress, however, the challenges presented by COVID-19 means that a cautious approach must be taken in relation to our phased return.  We continue to work with the Scottish Government and sportscotland whilst we consult our medical commission about the specific boxing-related activity with when and how we continue with our phased return.

The latest Government approved guidance for everyone’s information regarding Phase 3 can be found highlighted in red in the guidance.

As you will notice there is currently no change of the numbers conducting activity outside. 

Numbers inside remain based on physical distancing of  2m x 2m training zones. Again, no change from previous guidance.

COVID-19-OVERVIEW-GUIDANCE-v-8.0

It is noted that significant emphasis is being placed on the Test and Protect system.  Especially with the introduction of the Protect Scotland App.  Which we strongly encourage all individuals to sign up to.

Protect Scotland app is available at protect.scot App

Again we thank you for your cooperation and patience as we move forward with our sport. 

Boxing Scotland

Dear Members,

Today’s announcement from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that we will remain in Phase 3 of the government’s route map through and out of the COVID-19 crisis. We await the sport-specific guidance from the government which will be issued through sportscotland tomorrow.

We will continue to work with the Scottish Government and sportscotland to update necessary guidance documents in line today’s announcement. 

Once the details of today’s announcement have been fully considered, we will ensure that the updated guidance documents are made available to our members.

In the meantime, please continue to stay safe and best regards

Boxing Scotland

Boxing Scotland can confirm that Fraser Walker has left his role as Chief Executive.

Fraser joined the organisation in 2009 as Chief Operating Officer and was appointed Interim Chief Executive in 2016 before assuming the role permanently. He leaves to pursue other career ambitions after more than a decade with the organisation.

The recruitment process for his successor begins immediately and in the meantime the duties will be shared between Marianne Crichton, Head of Sports Operations, and Craig McEvoy, Performance Director.

Kevin Bell, Boxing Scotland Chairman: “On behalf of the board and staff at Boxing Scotland I would like to thank Fraser for his contribution to the organisation over the past 11 years and wish him the best of luck for the future.

“This has been a difficult time for sport across Scotland but with the High Performance Centre now up and running, clubs reopening and with Craig overseeing a talented next generation of Commonwealth Games and Olympic hopefuls, we look forward to attracting a high calibre Chief Executive to drive the sport forward in and out of the ring.”

Fraser Walker, former Chief Executive: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Boxing Scotland and believe I have implemented lots of positive change with the intention of leaving a long-lasting legacy for the sport. I would like to thank the staff, coaches, boxers and the boxing community who supported me during my time with the organisation and wish them the very best for the future.”

Dear Members,

After concluding discussions with the insurance company, we can now announce that the 2020-21 season’s cost will be £240 per member club.

To ensure there is a seamless transition of cover this fee must be paid before September 1^st 2020. As previously noted, last season’s policy was extended in good faith by one month to cover for August 2020.

Payments to be made via BAC (Bank Account Credit) transfer to the account details below:

Boxing Scotland Ltd

Account No: 00663179

Sort Code:  83-20-06

Please state your Club name as a reference or part thereof.

Cheque’s will still be accepted if BAC’s is not available. Please forward to the National High-Performance Centre.

Each year we endeavour to ensure the best possible deal for our members and this year is no exception. Unfortunately, due to circumstance out with our control, there has been a slight rise in associated costs along with an additional cost whereby a claim was raised against the policy.      

This has highlighted the importance of ensuring that clubs keep accurate records of all PARQ’s.  Without exception from 1^st September 2020 anyone who participates in any type of boxing-related activity with the club must complete a new U18 PARQ or Adult PARQ which supersedes any previous version filled in by a participant. Please take time to read the forms as they have been updated to identify what activity participants are engaging in. 

We thank you all for your continued support.

Regards,

Boxing Scotland

Boxing Scotland Summary-of-Cover-August-2020