Council supports boxing club, going the distance to get people back on their feet
Boxing classes are being used to help some of the most vulnerable adults in the borough transform their lives, through a council-led initiative.
The Safer & Stronger Communities project is led by Telford and Wrekin Council with support from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Campion and has provided boxing academy ‘Bright Star’ with funding to support adults referred to it for support with addiction.
The programme supports them in finding a new path and combines boxing skills with a series of support sessions called the ‘Empower’ programme.
The extra funding from Safer and Stronger Communities also means that a venue has been secured for the ‘Empower’ group in Woodside.
Cabinet Member for Stronger and Safer Communities, Councillor Paul Watling said: “Creating a place where people can thrive and feel safe is what Safer and Stronger Communities is all about. The boxing sessions are having a direct impact on people and making a difference right at the heart of our communities.
“Bright Stars is giving people the tools to make their own decisions for a healthy and successful future and we’re delighted to be working with them. We’d like to thank them for all their efforts particularly as many of the coaches are volunteers and give up their own time to make this project a reality.”
The Empower programme is coached by Stuart Cook who after leaving the Army in 2012, struggled to manage post-traumatic stress disorder – or PTSD. He used boxing as a way of making changes for the better and through his own experiences, helps and inspires others to do the same.
Director Joe Lockley said: “Our academy gets people involved with a sport that will give them the confidence and self-belief needed to invest in themselves and change their mind-set.
“Bright Star uses boxing as a way of helping people make positive life changes. Sport is fantastic for giving people something to focus their energy on, regulate emotions such as frustration and deal with what is overwhelming them”.
“Through our support sessions we build a support network for people who have already been through so much in their lives and help them overcome barriers and set goals for the future.
PCC John Campion said: “As PCC I am proud to support Bright Star through the Safer & Stronger Communities project.
“By offering these young people the support they need to work through their negative experiences, they can be advised about how to make the right choices in their lives and potentially break a cycle that might otherwise lead them into the criminal justice system.”
Students attending have been referred to Bright Star and identified from a service that works to support young adults struggling with their mental health or drug addiction aged 18+ to 30 years of age.
Sessions for the 'Empower' programme are via referrals only but the club also hosts public sessions in Shifnal, Sutton Hill's ‘This Girl Can’ and male boxing sessions along with a ‘Future’ programme in Donnington and Tweedale.
The joint initiative will see Telford & Wrekin Council contribute £2m and an additional £500k from the Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion invested into areas in Telford over the next two years.
