Llanrumney Phoenix Boxing Club’s holiday camps

Boxing clubs have always been beating hearts at the centre of communities, serving and providing for the people around them. 

That’s what Llanrumney Phoenix do every school holiday, putting on their holiday camps in an attempt to tackle child hunger and isolation during half-term holidays. 

Gemma Price, a club coach at Llanrumney Phoenix as well as one of Welsh Boxing’s Regional Welfare Officers, has explained what the club’s Easter Camp entails. 

“It’s a free provision that we provide as a boxing club over three days from 9am – 1pm. We provide breakfast and lunch, lots of activities including boxing, football, outside games, arts and crafts, cooking and much more.  

“The aim of Easter Camp, like all holiday provisions that we provide, is to get kids active, meeting new people, being pushed out of their comfort zones and getting them off screens and into the gym. 

“We have been running holiday camps for the past three years,” Gemma continued. “We run them each half term, for Easter and summer.  

“Llanrumney Phoenix Boxing Club is a hub in the community. We work with a lot of local children and know that there isn’t a lot for them to do over the school holidays. Within our area there isn’t anywhere they can go and have fun with their friends that’s indoors and a safe space.  

“We have created that and have children from all over Cardiff attending, not just children who are members of the boxing club.” 

The impact that Llanrumney Phoenix’s initiative has had on the local community is evident.  

“As early as March,” explained Gemma, “we had parents messaging us asking if there would be an Easter camp.  

By us putting this kind of provision on, parents can work, have a break, get things that they need to do done – all whilst their children are safe, fed and having fun.  

“In our most recent camp, we’ve had just under 60 children from all over Cardiff attending – from various schools and all from various backgrounds. We have seen children who were quite shy in the beginning really come out of themselves and get stuck in. We have seen new friendships form, and children from all areas of the city mixing together.  

“We’d like to think that we have been a great help to our community and that the Easter Camp has been a benefit to the children.” 

The holiday camps also provide a safe environment for children to explore boxing. 

“It’s been amazing to be able to introduce lots of new children to the sport of boxing,” confirmed Gemma.  

“We have had help from one of our female boxers throughout the camp, so she has been sharing her skills and knowledge with the children and even gave them the chance to do some sparring.  

“Lots of children who attended Easter Camp had never stepped foot in the boxing gym, so it was completely new to them. Each of them put gloves on and had a go. We teach them basic boxing skills and it’s a good way to introduce them to the sport.  

“Safe to say, we have a lot of children who want to join the club on the back of attending Easter Camp and now have a love for boxing!” 

It’s fantastic to see our clubs provide such essential support, a safe environment for participants, and encourage people to get acquainted with our brilliant sport in our local communities. 

Llanrumney Phoenix run camps every school holiday. Parents can get all the information they need and sort bookings out by following ‘Llanrumney Phoenix Boxing Club’ on Facebook and @llanrumneyphoenixabc on Instagram!