Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Community Grant Scheme has backed a wide range of projects across the district, including the Newark Amateur Boxing Club, which provides boxing sessions to young people at risk of exclusion and/or anti-social behaviour.

It said the sessions help young people channel their energy into something positive and healthy, while teaching them about self-discipline, confidence, and work ethic.

The group was awarded £7,900 from the grant scheme, which will give students the opportunity to be trained by coaches from Suggys gym in one-hour sessions over a 10-week period. This may be extended for students who would benefit from further sessions.

To take part in the programme students must complete a development card that is filled out by teachers throughout the week. The development card will focus on effort, attitude, attendance/punctuality, positive behaviour, and self-respect.

Applications are open for the second round of the council scheme. The closing date for applications is 4pm on Monday, 28th October. More information, including eligibility and how to apply, is at https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/communityfunding

Coun Paul Peacock, council leader, said: “I really enjoyed visiting Newark Academy to present the Newark Amateur Boxing Club with a cheque following their successful application to our Community Grant Scheme. The programme they have developed is vital for our local communities and our young people.

“It has been proven that sports in general but particularly boxing can be incredibly rewarding for young people who are struggling with mainstream school, who are at risk of exclusion and/or anti-social behaviour. It gives them an outlet to be able to decompress and channel their frustrations into something positive whilst also teaching them about self-confidence and character development in a healthy way.

“It is so important that we continue to help and support our younger generations and I am proud we can help a local organisation, such as NABC, to do so through our Community Grant Scheme.

“Applications are currently open for our latest round of the Grant Scheme so if you are a local group, organisation or charity who has a programme or project for the community that could benefit from a grant please do get in touch with our Community Development team at communityengagement@nsdc.info or by calling 01636 650 000.”

Dean Sudgen, head coach and founder of Newark Amateur Boxing Club, added: “We are absolutely delighted to be awarded this money as it helps us to continue our great work and enable our vision of bringing the whole community together come to fruition.

“We are passionate about helping to both tackle and prevent antisocial behaviour by giving young people real purpose and some good confidence building sessions based around individual need. The early intervention of the school sessions allow us to link the skills that they require for boxing to those that they will require outside of the ring in their everyday lives.

“Our impact reports have proven that this intervention is successful and will hopefully allow us to be able to continue to provide funded sessions to schools whereas any previous sessions were halted by lack of.

“Fundamentally, NABC is not only about supporting all of our boxers, but it is about supporting the most vulnerable young people in our local community.”

The Community Grant Scheme gives community groups and charities from across the district the chance to apply for up to £20,000 to help deliver projects that will improve the lives of residents.

To be successful, applicants must demonstrate that the project takes place within the district, that there is a local need for it, and how it contributes to one or more of the District Council’s Community Plan objectives. They must also include financial information to support the application.

Extra weighting will be given for projects whose applications can show they:

contribute to overcoming the cost-of-living crisis,
contribute to public protection by reducing crime or anti-social behaviour,
improve biodiversity or contribute to reducing climate change.

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