Mid Devon District Council Crushes Boys’ Olympic Dreams

Culm Valley Boxing Club is shutting down today due to MDDC deciding to charge it business rates.

Originally the council thought it a good idea to have a Boxing Club in the local are and provided some small funding to help start up costs (see minutes). The police were involved in helping set it up.

10-15 people train here a week under the guidance of Coach Mark Barrrington.  Two of the 15 year old boys had behavioural problems at school, but have since settled down and are training regularly.

The Club is non profit making, barely being able to cover the rent, with Mark putting his own money into the club. Excelsior has sponsored it with £2k of kit.

The politiicans will tell tell you about an “Olympic Legacy” but this is the reality of sport for most people in the country. Local coaches volunteering, using their initiative due to a passion for sport and helping others, but having obstacles put in their path by beauracrats.

MDDC have  made a splash previously saying how sport helps educational achievement, but the people in the business rates department haven’t been told that.

In 2 years time, when young people in the villages of Willand and Uffculme watch the Olympics on TV and decide they want to get up and do something- here is one less choice they will have.

Well done to Mark for setting it up and to all the people who have been training there- it is nice to see some positive work in the local community. If any local people have a space for the Club to train, please contact Mark on 07773900346.