Hamer ABC bid through to second round of Aviva Community Funding

Ladies group at Hamer Amateur Boxing Club

Hamer Amateur Boxing Club has made it through to the second round of the Aviva Community Funding which could see them receive up to £5,000 for new female-friendly equipment.

The club hopes to provide new equipment to accommodate growing female sessions, such as specialised boxing gloves, skipping ropes, weights and slam balls.

Head coach, Steven Connellan, said: “We started off a ladies’ session with just two or three participants.

“Under the encouragement of the instructor, and the ladies that participate regularly, we have grown not only in participants but also in ability. The group is very diverse ranging across all ages, shapes and sizes.

“As we are growing and expanding, we need new equipment that is for the ladies only to allow them to progress in their fitness goals. They need their own boxing gloves, new skipping ropes, more weights, slam balls, the list goes on.”

The women-only sessions have grown over the past four years, now averaging numbers around 15 participants per session.

Hamer cites one case study in its bid with Lady A’s transformation: “Lady A entered our gym with no ability; she was in no way fit, although she had been in ‘regular’ gyms over the years, but never stuck to them as she found them intimidating.

“She has lost weight, but above all, she is fitter than she has ever been. She can now do sit-ups, shuttle runs, boxercise, skipping can all be done, things she has never ever been able to do before- even attending our mixed session on a Thursdays and Bootcamp on Sundays.

“When asked why she stuck to our gym in particular, Lady A explained that she felt comfortable and that was an essential element for her personally and with that came the enjoyment, and then the sense of achievement as things became easier for her to do.”

To vote for Hamer, visit:

https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/16-3306