£2,000 donation hits the right spot for boxing project
A trained fitness coach and volunteer is seeking further funding for a weekly boxing and mental health programme aimed at vulnerable children between the ages of 11 and 14.
Craig Adams, aged 40, from Tipton, and fellow boxing coach Eugene Pugh, aged 30, from Coseley, have already gained funding of £2,000 from EMR, a recycling facility in Darlaston.
This has helped pay for a four-week boxing and fitness programme for 11-to-14-year-olds which will take place every Tuesday between 5.30pm and 7.30pm at Darlaston Town Hall.
Already all places on the first four-week programme are taken and Craig now hopes to find further funding to hold more sessions.
He said: "I volunteer with a charity based at the town hall called Darlaston All Active, which supports the community in many ways and is involved with food banks, people with disabilities and many other causes.
"I realise that many children have been affected by Covid-19 and felt that my experience of working with children and volunteering at a local boxing club would enable me to help those suffering from shyness, a lack of social skills and mental health issues.
Overcome
"I put forward the idea as a positive way towards helping the local community overcome the problems that many have suffered because of Covid-19 and the lockdowns and I am delighted that EMR has funded this project.
"However, we only have limited spaces and I am now hoping that other companies will get behind the idea and come up with extra funding so that we can extend the sessions and help even more young people.
"I would like to keep the sessions going for as long as possible and we need the funding because we want to make the sessions free-of-charge to young people who need our help."
Jonathan Moore, non-ferrous area manager for EMR Darlaston, said: "We felt this project was close to our hearts by helping vulnerable children.
"I am from Darlaston and this will be helping local children."
Lisa Delaney, operations manager for EMR Darlaston, said: "We are keen to support children and young people who live close to our depot.
"We think this is a very worthwhile project and wanted to support it and we will be keeping in touch and if successful we will look at how we can support them in the future."
By Sue Smith
