King of the kids: new PCYC boxing gym a resounding success over Easter school holidays

Seventy children came into Broome Police and Community Youth Centre’s new boxing gym to battle it out with the boxing bags over the Easter school holidays.

The new gym is just a few weeks old and has already cultivated a dedicated group of young boxers who are loving the sport and training with PCYC head coach Alan Ingram.

Mr Ingram said he has been blown away by the kids’ and community’s engagement with the gym over such a short period of operation.

“It has been very rewarding so far,” he said.

“Seventy kids came through the PCYC Boxing Gym over the Easter school holidays with the majority coming back for training the following days.

“There was a fantastic response from the parents who said their children thoroughly enjoyed the training and would be back.

“It’s a great outcome and has given us the ability to showcase the PCYC boxing gym.”

Over the past few months Mr Ingram has put in a mammoth effort volunteering his time an energy to re-establish the PCYC boxing gym in partnership with local community businesses and government.

“I can’t thank the Foundation Sponsors enough for their support and commitment to assist with establishing the gym,” Mr Ingram said.

The new gym is part of a $1.3m redevelopment of Broome PCYC that saw Premier Mark McGowan and Police Minister Paul Papalia come to Broome to officially relaunch the facility in August of last year.

The investment into the PCYC is part of the State Government’s broader approach to crime prevention and providing safe spaces and structured programs to support at-risk youth.

The intent is to encourage at-risk youth to attend the boxing gym with Broome Police Youth Engagement Officers who can offer some alternative learning in the space with the hope the youth attend regular training sessions and integrate with the broader Broome community.

As members develop their skills and ability, it is hoped that some junior and senior members will follow through with boxing as a sport and compete in Boxing WA sanctioned bouts throughout the regions and Perth but Mr Ingram said it’s not the main focus.

“It’s not about fighting in competitions,” he said.

“Even if we don’t have anyone from the gym wanting to participate in fights, that doesn’t matter to me.

“What is important for me is that people come down, get some exercise, learn some new skills and have fun while doing it — that’s what its all about.”

Mr Ingram said with the number of kids coming through, there’s no doubt that the gym will continue

“Some of the kids who came down went and got some of the friends to come down the next time which is a really good sign they’re enjoying it,” he said.

“Watch this space — we’re not going anywhere.”