Frank Bruno-backed centre set to open

The Frank Bruno Foundation has secured its first centre in Northampton, which it hopes to open over the next few months following a full refurbishment process.

The charity, which aims to bring together healthy bodies and healthy minds, is to launch a boxing club that will double as a mental health referral centre.

Once open, it aims to run a 12-week Round by Round programme, which combines wellbeing sessions with non-contact boxing.

The concept is that boxing will act as a physical therapy for participants, allowing them to experience fear in the body, and work through it, seeing that it is possible to face fears and not be overwhelmed by them.

The programme will be open to anyone over the age of 10.

The boxing gym, based at the Standens Barn Community Centre, will be open in the evenings and at weekends for community use.

East Midlands Club Support Officer Alex Le Guével has assisted Bruno, a former World Heavyweight Champion and ABA National Championships winner in 1980 with Sir Philip Game ABC, in setting up the club and will help oversee it operationally when it is up and running.

“It’s always great to be welcoming a new club to the East Midlands Region, but it’s particularly exciting to be doing so when it’s one backed by someone of Frank’s stature, and one that will also actively seek to help those experiencing difficulties with their mental health,” he said.

“It brings together the two things that the Frank and his Frank Bruno Foundation are passionate about and will provide an excellent space for people to enjoy their boxing and get support, should they need it, at the same time.”

Northampton Councillor Brandon Eldred added: “For the last 12 years I’ve been trying to get a boxing club in the eastern side of Northampton and Frank is hoping to do a boxing club in the evenings which hopefully will help with the behaviour issues with that side of town.

“Frank is really keen for people to come and use the gym and he will be around to help if they want to fulfill their dreams of being a boxer or if they just want take out their aggression on the bags instead of on the streets.

“It’s great to have Frank in Northampton, we’ve not had the greatest of times in Northampton so it’s nice to have someone choose to come here and see that potential, especially in the eastern side where there’s not that much to do.”