Pendle YES Hub launches mini boxing gym

Pendle YES Hub has unveiled an exciting new addition to its base in the town centre - a fully-equipped mini boxing gym that can be accessed by young people aged 16 to 24 receiving employment support through the service.

The initiative aims to promote fitness, confidence building, and personal growth among local young jobseekers while fostering a sense of community. 

The gym features punch bags, skipping ropes, pads and gloves. Staff at the hub plan to use it to support young jobseekers by improving resilience and more importantly giving young people the tools to understand and overcome barriers related to their mental health. The gym also aims to attract new participants to the Hub, to take advantage of the wide range of resources and support available to them.

The mini boxing gym offers a unique opportunity to young people looking for work in Pendle, with the Hub also running other physical activities as a way to boost their wellbeing, team building skills and self-confidence before the apply for work or are connected through the Hub to local businesses providing opportunities.

To ensure staff at Pendle YES Hub had the right skills to coach and develop young people through boxing, they collaborated with Empire Fighting Change (EFC), an initiative renowned for combining non-contact boxing techniques with intensive personal support. Pendle YES Hub’s team attended workshops with EFC and England Boxing where they learned techniques based around boxing, to not only challenge and motivate participants but also assist them in discovering their unique potential and resilience. This newfound expertise is expected to help Pendle YES Hub engage with and positively impact the lives of young people in their community.

Pendle YES Hub is delivered by Active Lancashire and Positive Action in the Community on behalf of Pendle Council.