Morning all, this is on the Sheffield Forum, how can this be right ? I am writing this post, and I am sorry but it is going to be a long one, about the disgusting treatment of an amazingly successful boxing club in Hillsborough. 16 Years ago Glyn Rhodes, a former professional boxer, opened the Sheffield Boxing Centre. His dream was basically to give the children of Sheffield somewhere alternative to train and to get them into sport and off the streets. Based at the Burton Street Project, Burton Street Sheffield, Glyns dream has become a reality, with sheer hard work and dedication to the kids and their development. Glyn has spent years of his life working with children of all ages races and financial backgrounds, no one has ever been turned away and all are treated like family. You would think wouldnt you that as the Burton Street project is a community project that they would support Glyns work and encourage it. The SBC is the biggest community project inside the building and offers more to the kids in one nights training than any other project in and around that centre and the area. Sadly support and encouragement are not what Glyn is getting. Over the last few years he has gone from paying 700 a month in charges for the whole top floor to 700 a month for 70% less space. The company is demanding back rent which Glyn does not owe and have now in the last two weeks taken further space from the gym by adding a FIRE CORRIDOR that is made of TIMBER ? Glyn has now been forced into leaving the centre all together, the clubs success means that children are being turned away as there is literally no space for them to train there anymore, he is now looking for new premises where he can carry on his work. Hillsborough will now lose one of its strongest youth workers and it is all about MONEY, the company want back rent and the company want more rent for less space. The fees that Glyn takes are supposed to pay rent, pay fees to the differing associations that the club belongs to, pay wages to the dedicated full time staff that help him run the place and pay for the kits, equipment and the maintenance of that stuff. Insurance, CRBs, the list is endless, how can this be right ????? I personally am disgusted that this so called community project are talking in pounds when they should be talking about supporting this work and its success. In a world where our children are carrying knives Glyn is telling them to carry pride in themselves and in sport and anyone that knows him and his work would know that. I am sure that you guys will join me in my feelings about this, I think it is disgusting.
i hope someone can help Glyn out and help finance a new gym for him,he obviously does a great job within the community it's the kids that will lose out.good luck Gyln
That's a load of BS. When you see the amount of money (particularly from the "public purse") that is pissed away and wasted by local councils it is a screaming tragedy that a truly worthy cause like Glyn's is being treated so shoddily. Unfortunately, I'm sure if you look at the numbers of amateur boxing clubs today compared to those of years gone by you'll probably find there's a lot less now than there used to be. People like Glyn and other amateur boxing coaches give up their time working with amateurs for free, and when there are a lot of overheads - rent, association fees, insurance, travelling to shows, tournament entry fees, etc, and not a particularly large sum of money coming in, it can be a real struggle. Local councils should be extending out a helping hand and supporting such boxing clubs, not allowing them - or even in some cases forcing them - to struggle to the point where it just is not financially possible to carry on. They offer the local kids in the community somewhere to go, to take them off the street. It gives them something to focus on, to learn discipline and to learn respect for others and respect for themselves. It also gives them a sense of achievement and purpose that previously they may never have had. Not to stereotype, but you'll find a large number of the kids who turn up at boxing gyms aren't particularly that great academically and don't do too well at school. People around them often give up on them thinking they aren't worth the effort and just write them off as another statistic, just because the kid is from some local council estate and it's expected he's just going to turn out to be another amount-to-nothing waste of space drain on society. However, when that kid goes to a boxing gym and he's encouraged to work hard, to have discipline then he goes and has his first fight... win or lose he still gets a nice trophy. The kid then feels a sense of pride and achievement, knowing that if he works hard then the rewards are there. Then the kid who was told he'll never amount to anything now has confidence, a higher self esteem and self respect. A new drive, a new sense of purpose. Literally, boxing can change lives. Now multiply that one particular local kid by, say, 30, and what do you get? 30 less local kids roaming the streets causing trouble and a high percentage of those having complete attitude adjustments that enables them to choose the better paths in life, be it through boxing or whatever particular road they choose. And also there may be a few potential talents who could pursue boxing to higher levels. I remember years ago there was a great article in Boxing Monthly about Brendan Ingle. You'll have to forgive my memory for not recalling the exact details, but basically Brendan got involved with a local councillor and set up a boxing club project for troubled youths in one particular area up north. The conditions were the kids can go there to box, but any misbehaviour outside the gym, in school, on the streets, etc than they wouldn't be allowed to come and train. Again, I forget the exact figure but when the project started crime rates in that area went down a ridiculously high figure, something like 70-80%! I hope Glyn Rhodes finds some alternative soon and continues his great work with the Sheffield kids. It is very commendable what he (and many others around the country like him) do, and local councillors should be ashamed of themselves for not supporting or helping out someone who is doing not only invaluable work for the community, but also playing a prominent part in helping to shape out young people's lives in a more positive direction. Best of luck Glyn.
Soprano, Wales and the Leek, it amused me. What this mob are doing to Glyn isnt amusing. Its Downwright Criminal. He has made the place a Great social centre for people across all ages. Im told He was out Friday with the Boys doing a Charity thing for the Soldiers, always Helping others.
When I was a kid nearly every working mens club had an am boxing section....its now actually very difficult to find an amateur club where i'm from now.
Glyn is going to be live on Radio Sheffield today and on Buncey's show on Thursday, he will be dicussing the ongoing situation with the club, thanks for all the support guys, Glyn is chuffed about it.
NEWS JUST IN !!! Glyn has just phoned me, the company that own the building have just been intouch with him, they ahve requested a meeting this week with him, thanks so much for your support guys, I will let you know how the meeting goes and what the outcome is. xxxx
Good news Lorn. Hopefully it will be a positive outcome, and at the very worst a compromise of some kind. If there's anything we can do in terms of signing a petiton or anything like that, let us know. Send Glyn our best wishes for the meeting and keep us informed of what's happening.
