A community boxing club is expanding, thanks to a £10,000 boost
Posted 24th August 2023
Brentwood Central Boxing Club has invested in its own boxing ring, trained an extra two coaches, brought in new equipment and seen other staff upgrade their training and safeguarding knowledge.
The improvements are being made to entice as many members of the community – aged six and up – to join the growing “family”.
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex (PFCC) has contributed £10,000 to Brentwood Central Boxing Club in the form of a crime and disorder reduction grant from the 2022-2023 Community Safety Development Fund.
PFCC Roger Hirst said: “I firmly believe we can make really positive changes in this county by focusing on preventative measures. By giving our young people somewhere to go, somewhere to build relationships with positive role models, to learn new skills and to focus their minds, we are making an investment in crime prevention.
“This boxing club is doing all of that and more – building a community, setting people up with a hobby and a passion for life and helping people to stay active.”
The club, based at Brentwood Leisure Centre, is open for training on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with sessions for women on Thursdays.
Flo Nicorici, boxing coach, said: “This club is for the community. It is for everyone – girls and boys, different abilities, different needs.
“We are one of the busiest clubs in Essex, with 110 bouts in one year. That means our children went out to compete 110 times. No many clubs can say that.
“My dream when I started the club was to start something as strong as the church. I used to be a church boy and saw the community coming together at church every Sunday. That is my dream for the club; to involve the whole community.
“This is not just about boxing; it is about sport in general. If you get people involved in sport, they will become better people. They will understand the meaning of friendship, of being in a team and of family.
“We have children come here who have been excluded from school. They come here to find their safe space. They come here when they are upset, happy or when they need something to speak to their coach.
“I want this to become a learning academy, taking children from different backgrounds and teaching them life skills, putting them back on their feet and sending them out into the world.
“if you can have a positive impact on young people, that is the main thing. We do good work.”
