Little Lives UK are delighted to be supporting Feltham Community Boxing Club for a second year. After visiting in November 2019 and funding the club for a year, the team went back in October this year to see how the club was coping in these uncertain times.
Again, we were very impressed with how the club was operating, particularly with the social distancing measures put in place for a contact sport. Little Lives UK are very eager to help continue supporting a club that encourages young people in the community to be active and learn more about the power of sport.
Feltham Community Boxing Club has been open since 2009, having been opened by former boxer Mike Hunter. Chris Martin, head coach at the club, mentioned how the club provides a safe and fun space for young members of the community, not only to learn about boxing, but also to make friends and come and enjoy themselves. As a charity, this is something we always look to support, helping young people grow in their communities. Once lockdown restrictions are eased, Feltham Community Boxing club will continue to run weekly sessions every Friday evening for children ranging between the ages of 7 to 18. Capacity has had to be reduced as a result of Covid-19; traditionally the club would host around 50 members. However, in the current climate, around 20-30 young members can still attend every Friday night. These passionate members continue to attend hoping to benefit both physically and mentally from each session.
Little Lives UK understands how important a role sport can play in helping young children. Having access to sports facilities can aid children who are disadvantaged or struggling with mental health. It can help them build confidence, or even encourage them to take up the sport as a profession later on in their lives. After hearing about how much members had been enjoying and prospering from the sessions organised, our charity was in no doubt about helping to fund Feltham Community Boxing club for a second year and is very proud to do so. Chris stated that our donation will go a long way in helping the club continue to achieve their goals. He revealed how our funding will guarantee their doors stay open for another twelve months. In addition to this, the club will be able to pay for new equipment, including new gloves along with protective equipment in dealing with Covid-19.
We spoke with a young member of the club, who was very eager to tell us about how much he enjoyed each session. He spoke of how much fun he has had whilst being a part of the club, but also said how he felt he had been doing better in school since joining. Chris echoed this view, maintaining that when children access sports they tend to improve their performance in school, also stating that parents of the members had approached him saying their children have been better behaved. Doing well in sport can give children more confidence, boxing in particular can help them physically and mentally. Chris hopes that once restrictions are lifted the club will see more young members come and enjoy themselves as much as the current members. As a charity, we want to see the club grow, we want to see more children being active, being more confident, better behaved and being a part of their community. We are delighted to be supporting the wonderful work Chris and his team do for the Feltham community and for its young members.
To find out more information about Feltham Community Boxing Club, click the link below:
