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21
Jun
The Harrogate charity offering boxing sessions to recovering addicts
A Harrogate charity is offering free boxing sessions for recovering addicts.
The charity North Yorkshire Connected Spaces offers weekly hour-long sessions in partnership with Harrogate Amateur Boxing Club.
NYCS helps people recover from addictions and mental health issues. All its volunteers have ‘lived experience’ – previous battles with addiction.
The Stray Ferret recently visited toxing club in Starbeck to find out more.
Volunteer Emma Plant, who struggled with addiction before a seven-month rehabilitation programme, explained:
We’re trying to tackle stigmas, inspire hope, and be around likeminded people. It’s the highlight of my week to come down here to engage with the people that access it and hear their stories.
People say it’s an outlet; it’s got them out of the house and that they can relate to people. We’ve had people down here that were in isolation for years of their lives.
I think a lot of people have a story to tell but are ashamed or scared to talk openly about their past. If we can bang the drums and say, ‘it’s ok, we understand’ that could encourage someone else to speak out.
'Without this I probably would have relapsed'
Since starting in 2024, the sessions have reached over 129 adults. The youth boxing sessions have attracted over 138.
Head coach Ben Smith, who has run the boxing gym for six years, said he ran victim support sessions at his previous gym in Batley and wanted to set up something similar when he came to Harrogate.
Ben Smith and Emma Plant
He said it would be difficult to find anyone for whom the sessions hadn't had a positive impact on their lives.
One of those boxers is Ryan Bean, who smoked cannabis from the age of 11.
Mr Bean lost both parents at a young age and felt that “death was around me” and “the only way to deal with that was to get high or drunk”.
However, the boxer now has a family of his own – a wife and two children. His wife, Taylor Reeves, also attends the sessions.
Mr Bean told us the impact boxing has had on his life:
I’ve been training for the past two years, and it’s completely changed my life.
Once I had my children I thought, ‘[drugs are] not right for me, I need to be better for them and for me’.
I’ve been coming here every week for about 6-7 months. Without this I probably would have relapsed by now. It’s nice to know there’s people on the same wavelength as you and there’s no need to hide who you are.
Personally, I find exercise is the best form of detox. You’re disciplining your mind as well as your body.
Ryan Bean
The recovering addict said he would recommend the sessions to anyone struggling with addiction or mental health issues, adding that “you’ll thank yourself”.
He emphasised that stigmas around addicts were unfair, too:
We’re not all the same. We’re all people. We all have a heartbeat, and we all bleed the same. We just struggle a bit more than others.
Ben Smith trains with Ceri Wilkins
The sessions received a £5,000 grant from the community fund operated by Jo Coles, the deputy mayor for York and North Yorkshire. The charity has recently secured funding for a second year.
Sessions run from 11am to noon every Friday and are open to anyone.
To find out more about North Yorkshire Connected Spaces, or to get in touch, visit their social media page here.
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