Scunthorpe boxers, young and old, are enjoying new facilities thanks to a contribution from our Landfill Communities Funding scheme.
The scheme allows organisations operating landfill sites to invest a proportion of their landfill tax in community and environmental projects.
Earlier this year, Kenneth McGready from Scunthorpe Centurions, now Riddings ABC (Amateur Boxing Club), applied for a grant and was awarded nearly £9,000 to enable the club to install male, female and disabled toilets as well as purchase equipment including boxing gloves and skipping ropes for their brand-new facility.
Kenneth, who is also a Team Leader at Scunthorpe Rail & Section Mill, is the club’s chairman. He said: “This investment in the club was very welcome and has been a great boost. As a not-for-profit organisation, the club values every penny and we invest everything we can back into our facilities for the local community.
“But we can’t do it on our own. It’s thanks to volunteers and donations – like the one from British Steel – that we can develop Riddings ABC. Being able to provide toilet facilities was a basic requirement needed for us to open up the club, so British Steel’s contribution helped make this happen.”
After considerable work was completed to transform their new building and install new equipment, the club opened its doors in April as the country started emerging from the COVID-19 lockdown.
Kenneth added: “The club’s moving from strength-to-strength. We have growing numbers of members, some of whom are competing at regional and national level. It’s a great way to get fit, improve mental wellbeing and learn valuable life skills too. If you or someone you know is interested in the sport, we’d love to hear from you!”
The club, which now has around 300 members, is based on Enderby Road in Scunthorpe. It runs a range of affordable sessions for anyone over the age of 5 with 6 CRB-checked, qualified coaches.
Interested in joining? Find out more about Riddings ABC.