About The Heart of Hayling

The Heart of Hayling (HoH) is a GB Boxing Awards Academy that trains young boxers aged 5-18 in the art of boxing. We follow the GB Boxing Awards programme from non-contact beginner drills that teach basic stance, guard, defences and straight shots (Preliminary and Standard GB Awards) to bent arm shots and complex movement (Bronze GB Award) to conditioned sparring (Silver GB Award) and eventually to medium and heavy sparring (Gold and Platinum GB Awards). We also promote a healthy lifestyle that encompasses eating well (we provide free fruit and water to all our boxers) and regular, purposeful exercise. At our 2021 team training day, our coaches and admin staff defined the charities’ aims as follows:

At HoH we provide the opportunity for young people to have fun building confidence, resilience, physical and mental strength, social skills, and mutual respect, all within our inclusive, boxing family.

Although we do suggest a £2 donation (purely for hall hire costs), we are a club run by volunteers and we never turn a boxer away. If boxers and their families can't afford a £2 donation then they are very welcome to join in for free.

Foundations

HoH was founded in 2018 by former Royal Navy PT instructor, field gun runner, rugby player and boxer Knox White BA (Hons) RN and local teacher Mark Coates MA (Hons) MLitt PGCE (Cantab) PGCIE RN. However, there have been five, far more vital ingredients in making HoH the extraordinary success it is today:

Firstly, The Hayling Lions, who generously provided the start-up costs, and all our other sponsors who enable us to go ‘above and beyond’ in supporting and inspiring our young boxers. Secondly, south coast boxing legend Q Shillingford MBE, whose outstanding GB Boxing Awards programme has formed the basis of our entire curriculum and whose early, excellent advice helped shape the club. Thirdly, registered charity HICCA, better known as The Hayling Island Community Centre, whose management and volunteers are so kind and supportive of everything we do. Fourthly, our army of volunteers (coaches and admin) who generously give up their time for hours every week to give young people a sense of fun and purpose and finally, the incredible support of the Hayling community (and now the whole of Havant and Emsworth) who bring their brilliant young warriors to HoH and trust us to build their confidence, courage and resilience: thank you.

HoH sessions

All HoH sessions are on Wednesdays at Hayling Island Community Centre, Station Road.

Time	Age Group	Session
16:00 - 17:00	12-16 (Bronze)	GB Boxing Awards session
18:00 - 19:00	14-16	Sparring session*
17:00 - 18:00	5-10	GB Boxing Awards session
18:00 - 19:00	11-16	GB Boxing Awards session

*You must have passed your Bronze GB Award to attend this session and have a mouthguard and headgear (HoH can provide safety gear if requested in advance).

Coaches

1. 
   Knox White
   Lead Coach
   Mentor
2. 
   Paul Nelham
   Lead, Phoenix Project
   Health Coach
3. 
   Ben Trapani
   Lead & Phoenix Project Coach
4. 
   Paul Hawker
   Lead Coach
5. 
   Verity Gravestock
   Senior Coach
   Phoenix Project Coach
   Club Welfare Officer
6. 
   Saffron Hampton
   Senior Coach
   Club Welfare Officer
7. 
   Nigel Wichell
   Senior Coach
8. 
   Scott Gravestock
   Senior Coach
9. 
   Mark Coates
   Senior Coach
10. 
    Wes Hooker
    Senior Coach
11. 
    James Booth
    Senior Coach
12. 
    Ian Johnson
    Senior Coach
13. 
    Shania Harris
    Support Coach

Admin Team

1. 
   Sharon Allen
   Boxer Admissions
   Personnel Support
   Lead Phoenix Project Administrator
2. 
   Shirley Inkpen
   Boxer Admissions
   Personnel Support
   Lead Phoenix Project Administrator
3. 
   Lisa Willis
   Boxer Admissions
   Personnel Support
4. 
   Ruth Davies
   Boxer Admissions
   Personnel Support
5. 
   Zoe Box
   Official Photographer
   Club Secretary

Volunteers Needed

We are excited to announce that the Heart of Hayling Boxing Club is growing, and with growth comes the need for passionate volunteers! We’re on the lookout for dedicated individuals who want to make a difference and help our club thrive.

Who We Need

Coaches: Assist with training sessions, mentoring young boxers, and helping our members reach their full potential.

Admin Support: Keeping our operations running smoothly. If you’re passionate about boxing or community work, we can find a role for you!

Why Volunteer?

• Be a part of an inspiring community.
• Make a positive impact on young lives.
• Gain valuable experience and skills.
• Meet like-minded people and enjoy a rewarding experience.
• Training provided once you’ve passed a DBS check and your probation period

How to Get Involved: If you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out to us or drop by the club during our open hours. Every bit of help counts, and together, we can continue to make a difference in our community!

Trustees

• Chairman: Jerry Widdowson
• Treasurer: Joan Fullbrook
• Lead Members: Leah Turner, Michael Wilson, James Widdowson
• Admin Reps: Shirley Inkpen
• Coach Reps: Verity Gravestock, Knox White, Paul Nelhams, Stuart Grover

The Phoenix Project

As a GB Awards Boxing Club, the Heart of Hayling has always endeavoured to help children and young people who have found life difficult and have tailored the programme of the GB Awards to help young Boxers attain their potential regardless of barriers.

We have been piloting Phoenix to help young Boxers with Autism and Anxiety, this need was identified through research, feedback and the higher prevalence of young people who had experienced the criminal justice system both as victims or involvement in criminal activity.

The Phoenix pilot has already been shown to be highly effective in:

• Teaching Boxers to channel and release anger safely.
• Enabling Boxers to gain self-confidence & to join in with the main group and begin to socialise with other boxers at their own pace.
• Enabling Boxers to develop their social skills and feel accepted as a part of our boxing family.

The aims of the Project are:

• To offer every child an opportunity for 1:2:1 coaching them to enable them to adapt to the Club noise and atmosphere at their own pace, if necessary, arriving & leaving at different times to the formal sessions.
• To enable the Boxer to grow in confidence at their own pace.
• To feel valued and accepted.

At Heart of Hayling we believe everyone is unique and needs to be valued to enable their qualities to be understood and appreciated. In this way everyone can reach their potential.

Press Coverage and Awards