Pick Me Up - I’m FREE
March 2020
Boxing clever for a community hub A £50,000 crowdfunding appeal has been launched to back an ambitious plan to continue a transformation of the former Co-op building in Stanton Hill into a boxing gym with a new youth club area.
Foster carers Kevin and Karen Henshaw have developed StarBox Amateur Boxing Club at the old building over the past five years, turning it into a community hub – hosting fundraising events and allowing it to be used by other groups. But the building needs an adequate heating system, better lighting and further changing facilities to enable it to help more people and groups in the area. The gym, which is a registered charity, run by volunteers, has secured a further 10-year lease. It said people already used StarBox for a variety of reasons, such as fitness, to socialise, for weight loss goals or simply to learn or to progress in the sport of boxing. Kevin and Karen, of Mansfield, said: “We want to be able to make the building more welcoming and more accessible to people with disabilities by improving its energy supply and providing sufficient heating. “We already create revenue, which just about covers the running of our facility and provides for equipment, by charging a fair membership fee and gym usage fee. “We also plan to hire out the facilities to bring in more revenue, but we need a heating system to do this. We have already spent a considerable quantity of our
own money on improvements and upgrades but we now need help build on our good work. “If we can upgrade this building with a heating system, better lighting and changing facilities, we could then offer hire of the building during the daytime for a much more diverse range of services, such as aerobic fitness classes, weight loss classes, adult education courses and workshops, conferences/meetings, etc, which would bring in more revenue to provide and maintain equipment, improve our self-sufficiency and
Prince William visits Mansfield — p19
also would make StarBox a central hub of this much neglected but deserving community.” Already community group Friends of Stanton Hill use the gym for its meetings and there are plans to develop an area in the building for a much-needed youth club. Last year the gym hosted Stanton Hill Spring Fayre and a Nutrition, Fitness and Wellbeing workshop, in conjunction with Active Notts and Deli on the Hill. It would like to hold further workshops. Kevin and Karen added:
“Children in this area, particularly in this village, have little or nothing to do within this community. We plan to use our building to voluntarily provide a youth club and we already allow Friends of Stanton Hill to use the premises for their activities without charge, but we need adequate heating to make this practical and comfortable rather than people having to sit in a cold environment.” They said the gym, its trustees and committee were all “dedicated to helping people in a deprived area and people who are in less fortunate circumstances than ourselves.” “This is a village-based gym where people of all ages can learn a sport and can be included socially. We and the qualified coaches are all volunteers,” they added. “No-one involved in our organisation receives a salary. We do this because we are passionate about giving back to our community. “The building is large and has so much more potential.” They have been given a quote by Ashfield District Council for the work and are now appealing to the community to back their ambitious plans. To make a donation go to: https:// www.crowdfunder.co.uk/starboxcommunity-boxing-club-betterfacilities
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Nominate your Community Star MANSFIELD Building Society has launched the search for its 2020 Community Star. Groups and charities from across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire are encouraged to nominate volunteers who deserve recognition for their dedication and commitment to improving the lifestyle and wellbeing of those living in the area. The award, now entering its fourth year, recognises the selfless hard work that volunteers give to their chosen group or cause. Charities and community groups can nominate their Community Star via the Society’s website mansfieldbs.co.uk/communitystar before 31st March. This year’s winner will receive £100 Love2shop vouchers as well as a £150 donated to the charity or group they represent. The winner will be crowned at the Society’s Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, 28th April, in The Auditorium at Mansfield Library. Last year saw 1st Huthwaite Scout Group’s Julie Copestake awarded the accolade for her 15 years of dedication to scouting. A special recognition award also went to Brenda Stockdale, for her work with The Oaklands 2019 Community Centre, Warsop, spanning more than 35 Star award winner Julie Copestake, years. of 1st Huthwaite Previous winners Scout Group. have also included Sara Spalding, for her tireless work supporting the homeless in Mansfield; Jo Scott, a volunteer First Responder who saved the life of a stranded walker suffering with dementia; and Richard Walker, a long-serving boxing coach who has devoted much of his life to encourage others in the sport he adores. As a mutual building society, The Mansfield is dedicated to supporting local charities and community groups by offering financial aid through its Charitable Trust and Community Support Scheme. The Society also encourages staff volunteering through its Work in the Community initiative, and this year the Society is committed to donating 150 days in recognition of its 150th anniversary.
ADULT EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY-LEVEL OPEN EVENING THURSDAY 19 MARCH 5.30-7.30pm
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