In 2020 we repurposed an unused unit on Aberfeldy High Street to create a dedicated boxing club and established a weekly boxing programme inclusive for all abilities and ages. Currently we run children’s classes, adult box fit classes, amateur sessions for children/adults and classes for autistic children. Since opening we have gained 200+ members from the local area and beyond. This summer we plan to run a Summer School Programme during the school holidays - providing a comprehensive programme of free, fun, accessible boxing classes and activities for children and young people in the area. For low income families locally, accessing affordable activities for children and young people during the holiday period can be extremely challenging. Through our Boxing Summer School programme, we aim to increase the level of free activities we can offer and welcome more members into our community gym. At the end, we will hold a community celebration for participants and their families.

What we'll deliver:

• Run a free 4 week Summer School Boxing Programme for a range of abilitie
• Run 4 boxing classes per day with a qualified coaches
• Provide refreshments for participants
• Hold an end of programme celebration for participants and their families

Why it's a great idea:

Aberfeldy, Poplar still struggles with a high levels of knife-crime which inspired Kirk to set up ABC. Historically there have been limited positive opportunities for young people locally, making them vulnerable to gang activity. Summer holidays often can compound this issue further. Post COVID we believe that we can have a positive impact for the local community by increasing meaningful activities right on their door step. By offering an expanded Summer School programme of free activity and classes this summer, we able to reach more members, promote health and wellbeing and support the high street to become a place that connects the wider community. We received financial support from Aberfeldy Big Local, a resident led group, to start our gym and have on-going support from Poplar HARCA and Meanwhile Space. We are fully affiliated with England Boxing, regularly featuring on their social shout outs. Also, we run own local anti-knife crime campaign ‘Stop the Stabbing, Stick to jabbing

Steps to get it done:

• Confirm schedule Boxing Summer School Programme classes
• Promote Summer School Programme to members and to wider community
• Delivery of 4 week Summer School Programme - offering a range of daily classes and fitness activities
• Offer open gym sessions for the community at weekends and in the evenings
• Hold a community celebration for participants and their families

At the start of 2020, Poplar Harca and EcoWorld commissioned the Start Here Aberfeldy Street programme in order to create new opportunities for people locally while the area is being redeveloped. It’s a meanwhile project that seeks to diversify the existing retail offer and draw new footfall to Aberfeldy Street whilst giving local businesses an opportunity to trial their proposition and grow their business through an incubator rent model. We are a key organisations programme and our work has engaged people locally to meet on their local high street. One particular success story is of one of our amateur boxers, who was a gang member. Through the guidance and motivation offered by the coaches and members within the club, he withdrew himself from that lifestyle and has now started volunteering his time in the gym, offering his time and background to help keep the young children in the gym. He is on the Kickstart program working 30hrs a week in the gym.