Once a thriving miners club, this new modern boxing facility has fully embraced what a community sports club is all about.
Shettleston Boxing Club is a community club that wants to create a safe space for those living in Shettleston to help them explore their love of boxing, enjoy sport with others, and to have somewhere to go when they need a friendly face. The club welcomes people from the age of five up to its oldest member, who is currently 59.
Nadine Graham, Club Secretary, said: “We wanted to create a club that was cool and unique. Something that would encourage young people to come along and feel welcomed. Something different from your traditional boxing gym.”
Shettleston, in Glasgow’s East End is among Scotland’s most deprived, with limited sporting opportunities. The club is an active member of the Shettleston Community Sport Hub, which is part of the national sportscotland community sport hub network and supported by Glasgow Life.
The community sport hub programme is funded by The National Lottery and brings sports clubs and community organisations together to improve the contribution of sport and physical activity within communities across Scotland.
Nadine, said:“The community hub brings together clubs within our area to discuss what we can bring to the community, which is a real asset because in this community, it’s important for us to connect and it gives the kids a wee bit of spirit for somewhere to go.”
Liam Baird, Club Development Team, Glasgow Life (East End) has worked closely with the club over the last 12 months supporting with governance, marketing, coach development and has helped embed the club into the community.
Liam said, “The club is focussed on inclusivity, affordability and giving back to the community. It's community driven and understands what the community needs. They have a wider vision of what they can do to improve and change lives. Everything is focussed around giving the best opportunity to participate, establish a pathway, and signpost people into other activities.”
Nadine added: “Liam is my right-hand man. We wouldn't be where we are today without Liam's support and his help. He's guided us from the very start and shown us the way to go. He has been a total asset.”
Fighting spirit
At the beginning of 2025, the club became a community interest company (CIC), meaning they will carry out activities for the sole benefit of supporting the community.
The club continues to grow and currently has 234 members. Membership costs £5 per year and the club also register their members to the Scottish governing body, Boxing Scotland.
The success of the club is helped by their enthusiastic coaches and the amount of time they put into volunteering. The approach is to ensure that everyone is involved, from coaches to members, parents, carers and their families too.
Nadine said:
“We've had really good feedback, which gives you such a thrill because it's so nice to hear that the young kids are coping better in school and they’re managing their temper better. As a parent, I understand that. We teach them discipline and a different approach to show them the right road and hopefully they can get achievement out of it to. We want to try and teach the children that this is their safe zone and somewhere they can go.”
Harry, 11, joined the club a year ago and won his first competition in June, he said: “The club is great, everyone is so welcoming, and it makes me feel like I’m part of a big family. I like the coaches and training, I feel like it really benefits me.”
Spencer, 13, joined the club as an amateur, he said: “Boxing is different to other sports, preparing for a fight, winning or losing, I feel like it’s more challenging. When I first started, it was quite frightening for me, but you just have to train more to feel more confident. It makes me feel great that I have a bunch of friends here, we have good coaches and its good exercise as well.”
Harlow, 15, is a regular member at the senior sessions, he said: “I joined mostly because of fitness, and it’s taken me out of my comfort zone in talking to more people. The club brings people in the community together and it makes me feel like I’m part of something.”
Beyond the ropes
Shettleston Boxing Club will receive £68,346 from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund to build an extension to their existing facility. The work will mean members will now have a changing room and showers, while also making more space for increased boxing opportunities and community physical activity classes. Club members have carried out some in kind work on the extension.
The expansion will allow the club to offer more and diverse sessions for the local community with a focus on young people and women and girls, with the lack of showers and appropriate changing area a barrier for that at the existing facility. The club primarily draws membership from Carntyne and is committed to operating with nominal fees from participants.
Nadine said: “This funding is the start of an exciting new chapter for the club. We strongly believe that everyone should have opportunities in sport, both to take part and also to reach their goals, regardless of their circumstances.”
“The extension to our facility will allow us to reach a lot more people in the communities surrounding the club.”
The aim behind the sportscotland Sport Facilities Fund is to support capital projects which are designed to create or improve the places where people take part in sport and physical activity in their local community. Priority is given to projects that widen access to participation or allow people to progress further within their chosen sport locally by removing barriers, particularly in rural areas or areas of deprivation and for under-represented groups.
In addition to the investment, projects can benefit from the expertise within sportscotland’s facilities team to maximise the impact that their plans will have, ensuring they meet the needs of their local communities now and in the future.