FINCHLEY BOXING CLUB
DONATION OF £500/MONTH FOR 1 YEAR (TOTAL OF 6K) TO HELP THEM SURVIVE THE COSTS INCREASES
Finchley and District Amateur Boxing Club (ABC) is one of the UK’s leading amateur boxing clubs, and is open to those who wish to learn and train in the sport of boxing.
Located in New Barnet (North London), this sporting facility is open to people of all ages and abilities, ranging from novices to experienced boxers.
For years, Finchley and District ABC has produced Schoolboy, National, and International Amateur Champions in boxing, all of the way up to Olympic level, including:
ANTHONY JOSHUA -
CELEBRATED PROFESSIONAL BRITISH BOXER, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST AND A TWO-TIME FORMER WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.
SPENCER ‘THE OMEN’ OLIVER - WINNER OF SILVER MEDAL FOR ENGLAND AT THE 1994 COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN CANADA.
SEAN MURPHY -
FORMER BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION.
OUR AIM IS TO HELP SUPPORT THE RUNNING OF FINCHLEY AND DISTRICT ABC, SO THAT MORE PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ARE ABLE TO USE THIS FACILITY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
HOW ARE REBOOT HELPING FINCHLEY AND DISTRICT AMATEUR BOXING CLUB?
We, at Reboot, have pledged £500 per month over the course of 2023/24, to help with the additional running costs of this amazing facility.
Our donation of £6,000 will give the club a greater chance of survival during times of economic hardship, and keep the service running for people within the community who depend on it.
Increased running costs associated with keeping the service open (i.e. bills and rent).
Paying staff wages.
Providing equipment and training facilities.
By investing in Finchley and District ABC, it is hoped that this will help raise awareness of the financial difficulty that many leisure clubs, such as this, face due to the cost of living crisis. It will hopefully encourage others to consider taking up boxing, as a means of promoting physical and mental wellbeing.
WHY IS THIS INVESTMENT NEEDED?
It’s estimated that almost three-quarters (74%) of councils are classed as ‘unsecure’, and risk either the closure of leisure centres, and/or a reduction in leisure services, by March 2024.
An additional £63 million spending was announced in the 2023 Budget to help publicly-owned leisure centres with swimming pools. While this is a welcomed investment by the Government, local centres are still finding it financially difficult to stay afloat and keep their services running.
BUSINESS COST OF LIVING STATISTICS REVEAL THAT…
At the start of 2023, England Boxing announced plans to help support clubs with ongoing running costs. However, this was only up to £1,000. Therefore, it is hoped our investment will provide the lifeline needed for Finchley and District ABC to thrive in 2023/24, and ensure its running operations remain more sustainable going into the future.
THE IMPORTANCE OF AMATEUR BOXING
As of 2021, almost 500,000 people up and down the country participated in boxing.
Particularly at a grassroots level, the positive impact of amateur boxing on the youth and local communities should not be underestimated, with links to:
Reducing crime rates.
Keeping children off the streets (particularly those suffering from social exclusion, who live in deprived neighbourhoods with a high proportion of ethnic minorities).
Helping children to reach their potential and better their lives, regardless of upbringing or social circumstance.
Personal growth and development.
Generating a strong work ethic centred on focus, determination, and discipline.
Improving physical and mental health.
Channelling aggressive behaviour in a positive and constructive way.
Boxing also reduces barriers of entry for people, regardless of background and circumstance. It has the ability to transcend nationality and race between cultures that potentially could become disconnected without the sport. Boxing gyms are also an arena in which the tightest of bonds are formed between people, ensuring our communities become ones in which people thrive, and not just survive.
With more than 980 affiliated clubs, and 23,000 members spread across the country, England Boxing is one of the UK’s most important institutions. Therefore, it is vital that facilities, such as the Finchley and District ABC, remain open to serve people within their community and give people the opportunity to box now and in the future.
