Unity show unity in troubled times

Unity Boxing Academy, Bradford has continued helping the vulnerable its local area during the Coronavirus outbreak.

The club has always been an integral part of the community, using the motto ‘we always reach down to pull each other up, and never reach up to pull anyone down’.

The venue is open five days a week, including weekend sessions, while the club also works in schools delivering a number of targeted programmes, in community settings delivering health and well-being programmes, delivers workshops and classes to professionals on equality and diversity, runs holiday programmes for young people and provides CSLA training and volunteer opportunities.

The boxing coaches support students in understanding that they are responsible for decision making as they cannot call upon team mates as in many other sports meaning that they must learn to take control both in the gym and during academic classes.

Staff are professionally trained and experienced in dealing with challenging behaviours of young people and as a result they develop a strong relationship that provides a foundation from which the students can build their self-esteem and start a positive cycle of achievement.

However, with the gym close for the moment, Francis and his team have turned their efforts to support the most vulnerable by delivering food parcels to families with children and young people in their households.

“Unity is part of a network of voluntary community organisations whom families rely upon, so we feel it’s our duty to support at times of greatest need because our community, boxers and their families support us all year round,” said Head Coach Byron Francis, who is also an official and judge in the Yorkshire region.

“All who attend Unity Boxing Academy become part of our family and we always support one another on our journeys both inside and outside the gym.”

You can find out more about Unity Boxing Academy by going to their Instagram page, using the handle @unityboxingacademy.