Mainsforth Amateur Boxing and Fitness Club in Ferryhill has been named among the top three clubs in England for community impact at the 2026 England Boxing Annual Awards.
Founder Richard O’Neill, 39, opened the gym in November 2022 after stepping away from amateur and professional boxing.
Mainsforth Amateur Boxing and Fitness Club in Ferryhill (Image: SUPPLIED)
He said he was driven by a desire to create something positive for his non-verbal autistic daughter and other children in the area.
He said: “I opened the gym solely on the back of my little girl being autistic and non-verbal, to help children.
Mainsforth Amateur Boxing and Fitness Club in Ferryhill (Image: SUPPLIED)
“I wanted to build something that would give young people support, structure and a safe place to come.”
Based in what he describes as a “deprived area”, the club has quickly grown from a single room into a multi-space facility with four qualified coaches and a wide range of sessions for people of all ages.
Mr O’Neill said the recognition reflects the work being done to steer young people away from trouble and down a more positive path.
He said: “We have put younger lads through who had no direction and got them on the path to getting qualified, getting safeguarded and becoming coaches themselves.
Mainsforth Amateur Boxing and Fitness Club in Ferryhill (Image: SUPPLIED)
“They were once just in the gym and now they are working within it and helping others.
“We are getting kids off the streets, giving them discipline and getting them on the right track in life. It is about being part of a team and building something together.”
The club now delivers sessions up to six days a week, including amateur boxing classes, one-to-one training, and community gym access for older members.
Mainsforth Amateur Boxing and Fitness Club in Ferryhill (Image: SUPPLIED)
It has also recently been approved as an alternative education provider, working with Durham County Council to support children excluded from mainstream school.
Mr O’Neill said: “We have students coming in and we teach them real life skills like the risks of alcohol and drugs, social media awareness, sex education and managing finances.
Mainsforth Amateur Boxing and Fitness Club in Ferryhill (Image: SUPPLIED)
“It is about giving them what they need to cope outside of school as well as inside the gym.”
Alongside its regular programme, the club runs holiday sessions offering activities and food for children, aiming to support families during school breaks.
Mainsforth Amateur Boxing and Fitness Club in Ferryhill (Image: SUPPLIED)
Mainsforth Amateur Boxing and Fitness Club in Ferryhill (Image: SUPPLIED)
Reflecting on the national recognition, Mr O’Neill said: “To be in the top three out of around 1,000 clubs in England is massive. It shows that all the hard work is getting noticed.
“It means a lot because it proves we are helping people and changing lives. That is what it is all about.”
He also paid tribute to those who have supported the club’s growth.
He said: “It is a team effort. To all our sponsors, volunteers and parents – we would not be where we are without them.”
Winners of the England Boxing Annual Awards will be announced at a ceremony in Sheffield later this year.