community projects
WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY. NOT FOR PROFIT
“This place is all about community. It’s something that’s increasingly lacking from the East End these days but, here, we cross all boundaries of religion, nationality, cultures, class and race. We have members who are Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus and atheists – you name it, they’re here. It’s amazing the diversity of languages spoken in the gym, but everyone understands the ‘language’ of the sport. It’s like a home, everyone leaves their prejudices at the door. It’s how a community should be.”
-Bill Judd, 2013
ULTRA WHITE COLLAR BOXING
As a gym we have collectively raised over £500,000 for cancer research as part of the UCWB boxing events. We run numerous events for white collar boxing, it is something we pride ourselves very highly in – raising money for cancer research and giving something back to the community allowing people of all backgrounds to get involved.
THE AMATUER BOXING CLUB
Our amateur boxing club allows people from a diverse background to all work together as part of a shared interest, to keep fit, healthy and for some to become future champions.
First and foremost we are a competitive club, but secondly we are a space where people who do not want to compete in boxing but want to box are allowed to do so free of judgement. We allow young people from ages 12-16 in the borough to train for free as part of our community scheme getting them fit and giving them discipline in their life.
CLASSES EXCLUSIVELY FOR MUSLIM WOMEN
World Champion Muay Thai fighter turned professional boxer Ruqsana Begum runs a ladies only class every Sunday.
Ruqsana’s classes offer a safe, women only space so Muslim women can train without worrying about their environment. Her involvement in the gym is hugely impactful on the large Muslim population in Bethnal green as the barriers to Muslim women in sport, whether cultural or familial are more than present today.
Ruqsana is a huge inspiration to female fighters and Muslim women who want to get fit having overcome huge barriers in her life to get where she is. The winner of numerous awards including the UK Sport Inspirational Performance of the Year award at theBritish Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSAs) in 2016.
Her involvement at KO running classes and teaching future is invaluable not just to the local community but also to a much wider audience across social media.
