Toolstation helps young volunteers transform boxing gym

Trade and DIY retailer Toolstation, and its social enterprise partner Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) joined forces with decorating merchant Dulux and Essex Police to transform and refurbish the interior of Champ Boxing Academy.

VIY combines volunteering and DIY to help young people learn building and construction skills on the job, by fixing local youth club buildings in need of essential repairs.

Offering a fully equipped boxing arena, 16ft raised boxing ring and over 16 punching bag stations, the boxing club has been an integral part of the local sporting community for several years, providing space for people to work out and gain professional coaching. It plays an important role in supporting the local youth set up, working closely with youth engagement teams as well as partnering with the local police in helping young people take up boxing as a deterrent to crime.

The Academy, which was in need of repair and refurbishment, has been transformed by 13 young volunteers aged between 14-24 years old, who came from the club itself and USP College as part of its support for the project.

Using supplies donated by Toolstation and Dulux, the volunteers and VIY refurbished and redecorated the male and female changing rooms, corridors and boxing arena by tackling underlying issues with damp and mould, replastering the walls, and touching up the paintwork. The transformation will help give the local institution a much-needed facelift and make it more attractive to new and existing members, as well as inspire the next generation of boxers with more modern facilities.

Rupert Nichols, customer and commercial director at Toolstation, said “James and his fantastic team at Champ Boxing Academy are an amazing demonstration of the benefits communal spaces can bring to an area, and their work with youth engagement teams and local charity groups to help enhance the lives of younger generations is something we really resonate with as a business.”

James Chisholm, owner of Champ Boxing Academy, said “The help came at the right time, and we are so happy with the changes that VIY helped us with to improve the club’s state of repair. It has put a fresh face to the facility so we can continue to thrive in the community and help us recruit new faces to our gym.”