Who are we?
Eastside Amateur Boxing Club is recognised as a charity that has been working with the most vulnerable young people in Belfast for over 25 years. We were established in 1997 when a small group of local people wanted to offer a positive outlet for young people via the establishment of an amateur boxing club.
Today the club is recognised as a successful youth and community asset, open 6 days a week including school holidays, offering young people a safe welcoming and inclusive environment to feel connected and having a strong sense of belonging.
Eastside Amateur Boxing Club seeks to help young people access to support that will nurture and develop them into happy, healthy, and successful members of our proud community.
Whilst our focus is on boxing, fitness and the engagement of young people in positive activities, we believe that we should be more than that. We want to offer our members the opportunity to feel safe and confident, make friends, challenge themselves, grow in confidence, develop respect for others and themselves, be disciplined, productive and worthwhile members of both the local community in which they live and wider society.
Additionally, we believe the club should offer more to our members than offering a safe and welcoming environment in which to train and box.
Why are we crowdfunding?
By crowdfunding, Eastside Boxing Club hope set in palce a deeply impactful and multifaceted project, combining fitness, mental health support, and practical education on a range of critical issues faced by teenagers today.
This is a completely new programme of engagement for local young people and not only promotes physical health but also addresses complex emotional and social challenges that can affect young people. The aim to create a diversionary program for teens engaged in anti-social behaviour helping to guide them toward shealthier lifestyles and positive choices and healthy habits.
Programme Goal:
The goal is to engage teenagers in fitness (boxing), educate them about important mental health concerns and life choices, and provide them with resources and coping strategies for real-life challenges. The programme also focuses on building confidence, teamwork, and offering practical advice to help them stay away from harmful behaviours.
Week 1: Foundation & Mental Health Awareness
- Physical Focus: Introduction to boxing basics—footwork, stance, basic punches (jab, cross).
- Mental Health Focus: Understanding the importance of mental well-being. Group discussions on stress, anxiety, and self-esteem.
- Key Topics:
- Recognising warning signs of mental health struggles.
- Introduction to suicide ideation and self-harm—how to recognise these in participants or their friends.
- Introduction to coping strategies like breathing exercises, meditation and mindfulness.
- Nutrition: The role of food in mental and physical health, focusing on brain health.
- Support: Providing resources for mental health support, including local counsellors, helplines, and online resources.
Week 2: Fitness & Self-Care Strategies
- Physical Focus: Boxing drills and conditioning exercises—building endurance, agility, and strength.
- Mental Health Focus: Managing stress and emotional triggers through exercise.
- Key Topics:
- How exercise can boost mood and self-esteem.
- Discussing the dangers of self-harm and suicide ideation and the importance of reaching out for help.
- Learning healthy coping strategies instead of turning to alcohol, drugs, or self-destructive behaviours.
- Nutrition: Healthy eating for physical and mental well-being.
- Basics of balanced meals: proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
- Importance of hydration and sleep.
- Support: Creating a safe space to talk about challenges, with an emphasis on peer support.
Week 3: Substance Abuse Awareness & Healthy Choices
- Physical Focus: Improving boxing techniques—focus on combination punches, shadowboxing, and defence.
- Mental Health Focus: Education on the risks of alcohol, drug abuse, smoking, and vaping.
- Key Topics:
- The effects of substance abuse on mental health, physical health, and decision-making.
- Understanding peer pressure and learning how to make healthier choices.
- Discussing the impact of alcohol and drugs on judgment, including risky behaviours (e.g., unprotected sex, unsafe situations).
- Support for breaking the cycle of addiction and peer influence.
- Nutrition: Foods and habits that help keep the body and mind strong and clear.
- Support: Sharing stories of overcoming substance abuse or addiction, and introducing support groups/resources.
Week 4: Sexual Health & Healthy Relationships
- Physical Focus: Boxing skills training—working on speed, power, and coordination.
- Mental Health Focus: Building emotional resilience and self-respect.
- Key Topics:
- Risks of unprotected sex, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unplanned pregnancies.
- Healthy relationships and communication skills—understanding boundaries, respect, and consent.
- The emotional impacts of casual sex and peer pressure, and how to make informed, respectful decisions.
- Nutrition: Discussing the impact of lifestyle choices (alcohol, smoking, diet) on sexual health and overall wellness.
- Support: Bringing in a sexual health educator or counselor to provide expert advice on relationships, consent, and safe sex practices.
Week 5: Anti-Social Behaviour & Making Positive Choices
- Physical Focus: Focused boxing sparring (light contact) and teamwork activities.
- Mental Health Focus: Identifying and addressing anti-social behaviours—how they can affect self-image and relationships with others.
- Key Topics:
- Consequences of anti-social behaviour (e.g., legal trouble, strained relationships, mental health issues).
- Building positive habits and goals through fitness and teamwork.
- The importance of empathy and making choices that contribute to community and personal growth.
- Developing leadership skills and taking responsibility for your actions.
- Nutrition: How physical fitness and a healthy diet can positively impact mood, behaviour, and decision-making.
- Support: Introducing the concept of mentorship and peer support, encouraging teens to find role models in their communities.
Week 6: Reflection, Empowerment & Future Planning
- Physical Focus: Full boxing circuit, putting together everything they've learned—punching, footwork, combinations.
- Mental Health Focus: Reflecting on the progress made in terms of fitness, mental health, and behaviour.
- Key Topics:
- Discussing personal growth—what challenges they’ve overcome and what they’ve learned.
- Creating a personal action plan for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- Setting long-term goals—how to stay away from risky behaviours and focus on building a positive future.
- Nutrition: Sustainable eating habits for energy, growth, and focus.
- Support: How to continue seeking help and guidance after the program ends. Setting up a support network, including the coaches, peers, and mental health professionals.
Additional Program Features:
- Role Model Coaches: Coaches who are relatable and knowledgeable, and who can serve as strong role models. Ideally, some coaches could be from similar backgrounds as the participants.
- Group Discussions and Peer Support: we will create a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for open dialogue, where teens feel comfortable sharing experiences and supporting each other.
- Guest Speakers: Include experts in mental health, sexual health, addiction counselling, or youth advocacy to provide deeper insights and additional resources.
- Confidentiality & Support: Ensuring that the program maintains a safe, confidential environment for teens to discuss sensitive issues, with a clear referral system if they need one-on-one counselling or further support.
- Community Engagement: Encourage positive community involvement through boxing-related events, or through partnerships with local organizations or charities.
Programme Outcomes:
By the end of the program, participants will have:
- Improved their fitness levels and boxing skills.
- Gained a deeper understanding of mental health, substance abuse, sexual health, and the consequences of anti-social behaviours.
- Developed coping strategies to handle stress, anxiety, and peer pressure.
- Built greater self-confidence, empathy, and leadership skills.
- Accessed valuable resources and support systems for ongoing mental health and wellness.
With our Crowd's support, we hope to cover mist of the major costs associated with this new pilot programme and such as:
Specialist training instructors and boxing coaches
Accessing mental health facilitators
Providing practical support and advice for nutrition
Workshop facilitators to discuss the effects of anti-social activities 0 on the participant, on the individual(s) receiving unwanted and unwarranted anti-social behaviour and the effect it can have on the wider community
Purchase additional items of proection equipment, body protectors, head guards, groin gaurds, gloves, wraps and so forth
Community impact
This new initiative will further develop our legacy and encourage health and fitness in disadvantaged area which faces higher rates of obesity, chronic illness, a sedentary lifestyle and lasting trauma from our recent violent past.
Reduced engagement in anti-social behaviour via the:
- Creation of positive outlets for energy
- Provision structure and routine
- Building of individual self-esteem and confidence:
Strengthen relationships and community ties by
- Fostering peer connections and positive role models
- Building trust within the community
- Improving relationships with law enforcement
Addressing the root causes of anti-social behaviour or offending through:
- Mental health support and awareness
- Coping skills for challenging situations
Prevention of substance abuse and other risky behaviours:
- Promotion of healthy lifestyles
- Raising awareness about harmful behaviours
Offer of a path to personal growth and future success by:
- Providing new opportunities:
- Creating pathways to employment and higher education:
A reduction in crime and improved public safety:
- Decreasing youth crime rates
- Encouraging pro-social behaviour
A strengthening of the sense of community pride and ownership:
- Youth as positive role models
- Community engagement and pride
Long-term impact on community health and well-being
- Improved public health
- Breaking the cycles of generational poverty and crime:
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge to Eastside Boxing Club's Crowdfunding Appeal
2. Spread the word by telling your friends, family workmates and your social media contacts
3. Offer rewards. If you are a local business why not offer our supporters an incentive to make a donation, or even make a pledge yourself
4. Fundraise for us. Why not hold your own event, like a car wash, 5 or 1 k walk or run, host a healthy eating lunch....the list is endless
5. Gift Aid your donationIf you are a tax-payer, please gift aid your donation and the club can reclaim an additional 25% from HMRC - AT NO EXTRA COST TO You