Peterborough Police Boxing Club works to remove barriers
Coaches from Peterborough Police Boxing Club (PPBC) have been working to remove barriers faced by disabled people when it comes to taking part in the sport.
The team is involved in a number of social inclusion projects aimed at making boxing more accessible by delivering events in public places using a mobile boxing arena.
The news comes in the same week that England Boxing increases the profile of the work it does around disability boxing, with the below video explaining some of what is on offer:
Led by Chris and Vicki Baker, PPBC delivered boxing taster sessions to over 80 people with disabilities at an event at Ferry Meadows Country Park in Peterborough, supported by disability charity DIAL and their local England Boxing CSO Naomi Bickerdike.
Bryan Tyler, Disability Forum Manager for DIAL Peterborough, which supported the event, said:
"Many of the participants on the day were young people with a wide range of disabilities and impairments, but nothing was too much trouble for Chris and his colleagues. They sparred and trained with wheelchair users, people with learning difficulties, and also those with sensory conditions such as sight loss. Everyone had a great time.
"Boxing is an integral part of the work we are carrying out to provide inclusive sport to everyone in Peterborough. We have worked with the club on many occasions and the results have always been the same: an inclusive, engaging and fun opportunity to get fitter for people with disabilities."
Chris Baker has since delivered boxing sessions at the FACET Centre, which provides a range of independent living and employability skills to over 100 students a week.
The students have a range of physical and developmental learning disabilities, and learning is based on personal progression with students encouraged to experience a range of activities and experiences which will increase their levels of self-confidence.
