Falmouth and Penryn Amateur Boxing Club have been awarded a £10,000 grant from Sport England to buy new equipment to help their rapidly growing membership, which includes many local youngsters, with an increasing number of girls and women, to learn the skills and develop the fitness required for the sport of boxing.

The grant follows the club’s successful completion of ‘Box On’ – a Sport England funded programme, run by Sport for Development charity, Sported and England Boxing, to support the growth of amateur boxing clubs using the sport to transform young peoples lives.

As part of the ‘Box On’ programme, Sue Stuart and Dan Coles of Falmouth and Penryn ABC received bespoke training and one-to-one volunteer mentor support from Sported to develop a business plan, attract further funding and help the club expand its work in the local community.

From humble beginnings as an after school club set up in 2006, by teacher Matt Sawden, alongside Coaches Chris Martin and Salvatore Nuciforo, aimed at giving focus to youngsters, the club rapidly grew in popularity and began to run evening sessions open to seniors as well as juniors.

In 2012 the club moved to the Dracaena Centre, where the increased space allowed further growth to present levels.

An expanding coaching team helps people of all ages, from 10 years old upwards, to develop their competitive skills, increase their fitness, or achieve personal goals.

Several members of the club have described how training for boxing has given them a strong focus on dealing with other aspects of life, increased self confidence and determination.

Over the next fortnight it is hoped that Sue Stuart, Charlie Black and Kim Ambrose will gain England Boxing Coaches qualifications, as well as Dan Coles moving up a level.

The Sport England grant has already enabled the club to purchase a portable boxing ring this season, transforming the sparring experience for the clubs competitive and developing boxers.

Paul Steele, Project Lead on Box On at Sported said: “Amateur boxing clubs like Falmouth and Penryn ABC are vital assets for their communities and provide life-changing opportunities for the young people that come through their doors.

"We’re delighted that this club could benefit from our Box On programme and hope that with its new business plan in place and funding from Sport England the club will go from strength to strength.”

Falmouth and Penryn Amateur Boxing Club train at the Dracaena Centre at 7.30pm on Tuesdays (seniors) and 6pm on Wednesdays (juniors/all).

For more details, please contact us via our Facebook page, or email falmouthpenrynboxingsecretary@yahoo.co.uk

Photo shows Louise Harris of Sport England presenting a cheque for £10,000 to Chris Martin, Founder member of the boxing club, surrounded by the rest of the coaching team and several club members in their new portable boxing ring.

Front row l-r Sue Stuart, Dan Coles, Louise Harris, Chris Martin, Kim Ambrose.

Congratulations to Richard Lister on becoming an ABA official.