The roof is now going on Charlie Malarkey’s New Earswick Boxing (KO) for Kindness club building on the outskirts of the city.

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The New Earswick Sports Club, which aims to get people off the streets and give them a purpose in life, is partially complete with the roof and floor the next big projects.

Ahead of the roof going on, organisers have launched a Knives Down Gloves Up campaign to encourage youngsters to take up boxing rather than carrying knives.

Adam Stead managing director at ADS Scaffolding has been helping Charlie with every stage of the build.

He said: “It’s to encourage young people to pick up some boxing gloves instead of carrying knives – instead of potentially taking someone’s life away and ruining your own.”

Charlie has worked for the Salvation Army for 17 years and leads its early intervention and prevention team in York.

He said the next phase of the build will be to put the roof on and complete the floor.

Adam said: “We would love to encourage local businesses to come forward.

“We have been in touch with JMark Construction and they are helping getting funding for the concrete floors and Simpsons are helping with the changing room fitting out.

“Pinnacle Conservation have provided free labour doing the block work up to the damp proof course and providing two men for two weeks working for free.

“ADS has provided the scaffolding for free and bricklayer Wayne Lee has been provided by ADS.”

Hopefully the roof will be on by the last week in September.

Former pro boxer Jamie Warters will be helping with coaching when the club is up and running and has said he can’t wait for the doors to open.

Charlie said: “We are trying to get funding for the floor as we need to get this place open as soon as possible – the police have been in touch with me and said they have kids as young as 11 who are desperate for it to open.

“No one is making a bean out if this, it’s a charity working for the community.”

Anyone who thinks they can help in any way, please contact Charles.Malarkey@salvationarmy.org.uk or phone 07712443163.