Firth Park Boxing Academy Case Study

Over the past 2.5 years SOAR have supported Firth Park Boxing to be able to offer a more equitable and sustainable service, making the sessions more inclusive for members to attend. We have supported the group in applying for various funding such as Lottery, This Is Us, Strengthening Communities, HAF and Local Ward Pot.

Here are the highlights of Firth Park Boxing Academy's progress over the past 2.5 years:

Lottery Funding

Firth Park Boxing, working in partnership SOAR and local Ward Councillor Fran Belbin, secured £52,840 Lottery funding.

This supported the running of the group for 3 years; money was used to support the purchase of high quality equipment and pay staff wages and volunteer expenses.

Strengthening Communities and This is Us

With financial support from Strengthening Communities and This Is Us grants, Firth Park Boxing Academy have introduced new programmes designed to foster personal growth, teamwork, and independence. These included: hiking, life skills development (cooking, laundry, cleaning etc), litter picking and more!

The funding has allowed for the purchase of new equipment, staff training and development, and has also given the opportunity for the Project Lead to have increased employment of 29hrs per week.

SOAR - HAF

Working with Polaris and our HAF Co-ordinator, the group has been supported in applying for HAF funding and completing associated admin tasks such as monitoring. The funding has ensured a more equitable and inclusive approach by offering free sessions for young people whose family are in receipt of benefit related free school meals. The HAF sessions also offer food provisions.

With the help of SOAR, VAS and local ward councillor Fran Belbin, the Academy have now set up as a CIC, with 4 registered Trustees. As part of the Polaris Project they have also recruited 2 Young Trustees. All essential policies are now adopted, supporting operations

and sustainability.

The feedback from young people is that the sessions offer them a healthy outlook on how to deal with stress and anxiety, how to build social skills and learning, as well as providing them with a sense of belonging.

Anhar says:

“Best gym in the UK not just Sheffield. The coach Hussein as a strong passion for boxing and is a role model for the lads in the gym. This is a good place to train for fitness and 1-2-1”