Community Spotlight: Team Pumpkin Boxing 17 January 2025
This January, we’re spotlighting the incredible work that Team Pumpkin Boxing do for our community!
Who are Team Pumpkin Boxing?
They cater for a wide audience from 5-year olds to professional adult boxers, who all come with their different goals, from losing weight to competing for England!
Team Pumpkin Boxing provides a safe environment to experience the physical and mental benefits of exercise. By getting children off the streets and in the gym, it creates a positive impact on the local community and makes the area a safer and better place to live.
Ben, who turned professional last year, helps inspire younger boxers with his story; he even set up a healthy eating programme funded by the club, to help both children and their families with their nutrition.
Ben and Carl Collins, founders of Team Pumpkin Boxing
Merry Hill and Team Pumpkin Boxing
Merry Hill has been working with Team Pumpkin Boxing through West Midlands Police since the gym’s opening in 2023, and the centre now funds 10 referral spots with them per year; these places are selected from those who have displayed ASB (anti-social behaviour) within the centre. This encourages them to make a positive change and find a healthy outlet for the stresses in their lives!
They have even found that these referral places have the highest attendance out of everyone who comes through the gym doors. Alongside this, Merry Hill’s funding has helped the gym give out more kit.
As Team Pumpkin Boxing is so close to our centre, members can spend valuable time in both places – Carl said: “They go out in the local Merry Hill Shopping Centre after training as a group, and go and get food. You know, they’ll probably end up being friends for the rest of their life!”
If you’re looking to get involved, Team Pumpkin Boxing is looking for volunteers in various roles, including boxing coaches, committee roles, community engagement and outreach, fundraising and general help (e.g. at events) – contact Carl Collins for more information.
Check out the Team Pumpkin Boxing page here. We look forward to continuing our rewarding partnership with such a brilliant local initiative!