Young Peckham boxers need a gym closer to home because postcode wars mean some won’t stray far from the area.
Peckham Amateur Boxing Club (ABC) trains at a small venue in Elephant and Castle but wants to return to its spiritual heartlands.
The new venue must accommodate the 45 young people who train weekly and be in Peckham so it can attract more people from the area.
Head Coach Iain Perriss said: “While we appreciate the place at Elephant and Castle, we are the Peckham Amateur Boxing Club and so should have a home in Peckham!”
Now Peckham ABC has joined forces with Fighting Futures – a charity empowering disadvantaged young people through the power of boxing.
The charity was founded by boxing-mad father and son duo Mark and Max Woodward-Smith.
Fighting Futures has invested heavily in Peckham ABC meaning it can now turn its attention to finding a new home.
The kids at Peckham ABC aren’t involved in gangs but are aware of the landscape of postcode warfare.
“Some kids living in Peckham won’t go into Elephant and Castle because they might be identified,” Iain said.
He added: “We want to help as many kids as we can whether they’re in gangs or have lost their parents or are struggling financially.”
Iain says it’s all about prevention and giving them a purpose that has a lasting effect.
He wants ABC to be more than a boxing club. The new venue would not only host boxing classes but also have meal nights, educational programs, and community-building initiatives.
“We’re not running a twelve-week programme. It’s not a revolving door,” Iain said.
“Once you come through our door, you’re part of a family where you can learn to box, take part in tournaments, and become a coach. Some of our kids have gone on to university.”
Iain has always been clear that the kids are “good as gold” and believes they just need “a bit of structure” to get ahead in life.
Despite receiving support from Southwark Council, and a recent partnership with Fighting Futures charity, finding a permanent home has been difficult.
Young people have trained at Peckham Pulse, a local school, and even been forced to practice in a car park behind Peckham Rye.
ABC said venue costs had proved “exorbitant” and it now needs an affordable 2,000sq ft base after raising £12,000 through fundraising efforts.
Iain, who grew up around south London, fought in amateur bouts himself.
One saw him sustain a brain injury from an accidental headbutt which took him two years to fully recover from.
Iain said: “It’s a young person’s sport and it’s important it’s used as a pathway. It’s not all about national champions and not all about winning.
“It’s about preparing kids for the rest of their lives. I’m trying to build something that goes on for 100 years.”