13 YOUNG VOLUNTEERS HELP TRANSFORM SOUTHEND BOXING GYM
Posted by: electime 14th April 2025
Champ Boxing Academy, run by former International Boxing Champion James Chisholm, received major enhancements to its activity and changing room areas across the 10-day VIY project
Social enterprise Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) recently joined forces with trade and DIY retailer Toolstation, painting and decorating merchant Dulux and Essex Police for its latest renovation project, transforming and refurbishing the interior of Champ Boxing Academy.
VIY combines volunteering and DIY to help young people learn building and construction skills on the job, by fixing local youth club buildings in need of essential repairs. The social enterprise has just completed its latest project redecorating the activity and changing room areas of Champ Boxing Academy, a community club based in Southend run by former Irish and International Boxing Champion James Chisholm.
Offering a fully equipped boxing arena, 16ft raised boxing ring and over 16 punching bag stations, the boxing club has been an integral part of the local sporting community for several years, providing space for people to work out and gain professional coaching. It plays an important role in supporting the local youth set up, working closely with youth engagement teams as well as partnering with the local police in helping young people take up boxing as a deterrent to crime.
The Academy, which was in need of repair and refurbishment, has been transformed by 13 young volunteers aged between 14-24 years old, who came from the club itself and USP College as part of its support for the project.
Using supplies donated by Toolstation and Dulux, the volunteers and VIY refurbished and redecorated the male and female changing rooms, corridors and boxing arena by tackling underlying issues with damp and mould, replastering the walls, and touching up the paintwork. The transformation will help give the local institution a much-needed facelift and make it more attractive to new and existing members, as well as inspire the next generation of boxers with more modern facilities.
In addition to creating a high-quality sporting hub for the local community, the VIY initiative is also helping more young people learn DIY skills and consider a career in the construction and building industry, whilst renovating a space they may use and benefit from.
Toolstation has funded and helped the volunteers gain City & Guilds qualifications as part of its partnership with VIY. After spending a total of 12 days working on the project, eight of the young people in attendance were awarded an accreditation in painting and decorating. The project was co-funded by Essex Police through their Community Safety Development Fund.
Rupert Nichols, Customer and Commercial Director at Toolstation, said “James and his fantastic team at Champ Boxing Academy are an amazing demonstration of the benefits communal spaces can bring to an area, and their work with youth engagement teams and local charity groups to help enhance the lives of younger generations is something we really resonate with as a business.
“At Toolstation, we believe that supporting communities involves creating positive change where it’s needed most. Partnering with VIY means we can help improve living conditions and share valuable skills with the young volunteers from the local area. We believe that this project will encourage young people to develop confidence and learn practical trade and building skills and to consider a career in the trade.”
James Chisholm, owner of Champ Boxing Academy, said “The help came at the right time, and we are so happy with the changes that VIY helped us with to improve the club’s state of repair. It has put a fresh face to the facility so we can continue to thrive in the community and help us recruit new faces to our gym.”
Veronica Lane, the Industry Placement Officer at USP College said “The students who took part in these projects are currently enrolled in a range of courses. Many are not yet workplace ready and are working to overcome various barriers to employment. For these young people, engaging in a structured, supportive, and practical experience like that offered by VIY is hugely beneficial. It provides them with a sense of routine, builds confidence, and equips them with transferable skills that can lead to future training, apprenticeships, or employment opportunities.”
Ed Sellwood, COO and Co-Founder at VIY, said: “We’re proud of our long-term partnership with Toolstation, helping to inspire and diversify the next generation of tradespeople, whilst helping to improve spaces that matter to communities that desperately need improvements. We look forward to continuing our great work together this year.”
Toolstation has been supporting VIY since 2020 and will be working with the social enterprise on a number of other projects throughout the year.
