North Down Boxing Club
Trustees Report – 31[st] March 2022 to 31[st] March 2023
NIC 102717
Group Purpose
North Down Boxing Club has continued to promote the sport of boxing to the local community as a way of encouraging a healthy mind and body to everyone. Through the running of the Club six times a week, existing and new members have been able to come together regularly and feel part of a team, enjoying the camaraderie this brings. As well as the Club providing a space for all abilities to enjoy the sport while improving their health and fitness, the club has continued to play an active role in the local community by keeping young people off the street who would be more vulnerable to anti-social behaviour. Being able to be part of something positive in their local area which visibly shows the importance of team work, discipline and commitment has been extremely beneficial for the young people, with noticeable changes in their attitudes and behaviour. As well as providing a space for more light-hearted play which everyone can get involved in, we have continued to offer coaching and competitive opportunities to those who want to take boxing more seriously and train in it as a high performance sport. We continue to promote boxing as the number one Olympic Sport in Ireland through the Club as well as through the County Antrim Board of Boxing and our affiliation with Irish Athletic Boxing Association.
Trustee board
Mr Reece Mckee Mrs Lesley Mcmillan Mr Stuart Arthur Mr Lewis Mckee Miss Brooke Doherty Mr Bogdan Tudoran
Financial Year 31/3/22 – 31/3/23
Bankers Ulster Bank Ltd Unit 13 Springhill Shopping Centre Bangor BT19 1ND
Activities
We have now upped the club activities to six times a week giving young people the opportunity to be in the club a lot more. We have also started to go to other clubs sparring in cross community sparring days. This gives young people from different backgrounds to become friends and come together with a common interest in sport. After covid restrictions have now ended we also have the opportunity to take part in championships again all over Ireland which gives the boxers something to work towards. We have had some success in recent championships winning Gold and silver medals and gaining some valuable experience in a competitive setting. We have also been able to secure funding which has enabled us to take the members on day trips and a residential for the weekend which was a great success.
Our move to our new premises to 1 Fort Road in Rathgill estate has been great for the club we have successfully been able to get more members to join the club and open more hours for the members we are now open for six sessions a week. The new, accessible facilities have been life-changing for the club and those who use it, as aspirations have been lifted with people connecting, training and supporting each other in a fit for purpose and higher-quality space. We have continued to add more works to the new club rooms to make the space even better for our members. We hope to be able to add some heating to the club this year for before the winter season.
The members of our club are from predominantly PUL working-class areas with high levels of educational underachievement, unemployment, poverty, mental and physical health issues, increased isolation and loneliness, but our passion is on giving young people and others positive opportunities to raise their aspirations, increase their confidence and develop skills for the future. We continued to do this through 121 coaching and training, competitions, group classes and activities and socialising events. Since re-opening, members have repeatedly told us that in a world that continues to be more and more volatile and unpredictable, climate and rise in living costs, they feel better knowing that through the club they have structure, focus, meaningful connection and support, in a safe and non-judgemental space.
As a club we feel we have made great strides in moving the club forward since our reopening but we are hopeful that next year will be a even better and more successful year for the club and our club will be able to support even more people in need across the generations.
Financial review
Approved by the Trustees on 30[th] of May 2023 and signed on their behalf by