Sported – the community sport charity – has secured £230,000 (US$329,449, €291,745) funding from Sport England to improve the sustainability of grassroots boxing clubs.

The body’s Box On scheme will attempt to make local clubs more accessible to people from all backgrounds, with a particular emphasis on breaking down barriers for hard-to-reach groups, such as girls and those from challenging socioeconomic backgrounds.

Clubs are also being trained to improve their own capability to secure grant funding by themselves.

During a pilot in 2015 – which was established in association with England Boxing – Sported created tailored packages for nine boxing clubs, which included a two-day workshop on capacity building and club development. They also received three months of one-to-one professional support from a Sported volunteer mentor to develop a robust three-year business plan.

Upon completion, each club became eligible to apply for £7,500 (US$10,742, €9,513) of Sport England funding as part of the quango’s 2013-17 Whole Sport Plan.

Following the pilot, Sported will now roll out the programme to 60 further boxing club members using the money granted by Sport England.

Paul Steele, Sported’s project lead on Box On, said that the pilot was helped by “leveraging” volunteers and sector knowledge from some of the charity’s 3,000+ members.

“These boxing clubs are vital assets for their communities and provide life-changing opportunities,” he added. “Box On will lay the foundations for their continued growth and success.”

Sport England director of sport Phil Smith added: “Box On will help us reach people living in some of England’s most deprived areas, and enable them to become more active.This money will support these clubs to become more self-sufficient, ensuring they can continue to serve their local community for years to come.”