Oldham Boxing centre receives vital community funding

[Ruthless-RKO]

Oldham Boxing centre receives vital community funding

An Oldham boxing centre has received key levelling up funding to protect it from relocating.

Oldham Boxing and Personal Development Centre, based at Victoria House on Greaves Street, was facing a potential relocation from what has been its home since 2013.

The crucial funding of £550,000 will go towards maintaining the building and delivering services.

Eric Noi, head coach and director at Oldham Boxing, said: "The grant will go towards helping Oldham Boxing And Personal Development Centre to continue to deliver not just boxing but a host of much-needed services to the people of Oldham.

"This will be done by ensuring that our building is fit for purpose and is in a good state of repair."

Oldham Boxing offers support to vulnerable young people through boxing and exercise, along with fitness and wellbeing classes.

The centre previously featured in a campaign delivered by the Greater Manchester Violence

Without the investment, the centre may have been forced to move and leave behind the community it has served.

Victoria House was originally built in 1874 and functioned as a billiard hall until the turn of the 20th century. The money will allow for essential repair works to be carried out.

The funding has come through the Community Ownership Fund scheme, which is providing £2.2 million to eight community projects across England and Northern Ireland.

This is part of wider funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities who are looking to deliver a wider £150 million package to level up communities by empowering them to take ownership of local landmarks.

Minister for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution, Neil O’Brien MP said: "Giving communities more power to make positive changes in the places they live is a key part of what levelling up is all about.

"Through this Fund, we are making sure that important projects like the Oldham Boxing Centre can continue to thrive and proudly serve the local community."

[jimmystone]

If that figure is correct it is an out and out waste of money. Whoever has signed off on that should be sacked. If I'm paying tax I want it spent sensibly. You could move to and set up a better gym than that for a fraction of the price.