A boxing and fitness club is packing a punch with Glendale residents as part of a community health and social inclusion project with the help of a donation from Four Housing.
Since its launch earlier this year, Glendale Amateur Boxing & Fitness Club, which has its base in Glendale Middle School, has seen over 170 local residents aged between eight and 70 participate in boxing sessions and Fitness Club classes with many reporting significant improvements to their health and wellbeing. The club has benefited from a donation from Four Housing’s Community Development Fund towards the cost of running the club and the purchase of new equipment.
Glendale Amateur Boxing & Fitness Club, a Sport England Satellite Club, was set up by a group of local volunteers including experienced boxing coach David Milburn with the aim of encouraging and making accessible facilities and equipment for the people of the wider Glendale community to participate in boxing and general fitness.
Mother of three Lizi McFarlane is just one of the local residents to have experienced the significant benefits of joining the club. She regularly takes part in classes including Boxercise and Metafit and her eleven and nine year-old daughters regularly take part in boxing sessions.
She said: “It’s great that I can attend an exercise class knowing my girls are safe at the boxing club. My youngest daughter likes that she can attend when she wants to and is always made welcome. My 11 year-old daughter has attended nearly 70 boxing sessions since February and her attitude and behaviour outside the club has improved as she enjoys the boxing so much and knows that she will miss club nights if she misbehaves at home. Personally, I feel healthier and regular exercise helped me reduce the amount of cigarettes I smoked so much that I have now given up smoking altogether.”
Four Housing’s Community Development Fund was set up to support local projects in north Northumberland. The not-for-profit housing provider is responsible for 313 properties throughout Glendale.
Commenting on the success of Glendale Amateur Boxing & Fitness Club during a recent visit to the club, Gillian Buchan, customer engagement officer at Four Housing, said: “The project is clearly making a huge difference to people of all ages in the Glendale community. It means that in an isolated, rural area there is the opportunity for people to get fit, improve health and wellbeing without having to travel to larger towns.
“The club provide all the necessary equipment for taking part in both boxing and exercise classes and we are delighted that the Community Development Fund was able to provide support towards equipment and ongoing running costs.”
Club Chairman, Andy Clark, said: “We are pleased to be associated with Four Housing and their assistance is valuable. Our club welcomes everybody from the wider Glendale area where Four Housing are prevalent and this funding ensures we can keep the club accessible to all whilst providing the highest standard of facilities and equipment for all our members.”
The Boxing Club has already seen several boxers preparing for competition under the guidance of David and newly qualified coach, Alistair Sharp. The club hosts six sessions per week on a Tuesdayand Thursday aimed at males and females aged eight and over. There are also boxing technique and fitness training sessions available for those who want to train but not spar or compete. The Fitness Club, coordinated by Judy Tribe, provides classes hosted by qualified instructors and offers sessions including Boxercise, Kettlebells, Legs, Bums and Tums and Metafit.
For further information and full class timetables visit the club’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/glendaleboxing, email: glendale.abc@gmail.com or call: 07444 027896
For more information about Four Housing, visit: www.fourhousing.co.uk.
