**Prestigious Accolades**: Sanctus Boxing Club, Wyke, has made a significant splash at the 2025 England Boxing Annual Awards, claiming the highly sought-after Community Club Impact Award. * The award recognizes the club’s exceptional work in fostering community spirit and providing a positive outlet for local youth through the sport of boxing. * The win highlights Sanctus’s commitment to creating a strong foundation for young people to achieve their goals, both on and off the boxing ring. The award was presented to Sanctus at the event held on Friday, July 25 2025, in Sheffield. **A Legacy of Achievements**: Sanctus Boxing Club has been making waves in the boxing world, with a list of impressive accolades that solidify its reputation as a force to be reckoned with. * Multiple national titles won as an amateur boxer by founder Shane Thewlis. * The club’s early opening in June 2021 marked a bold step in promoting youth development through boxing.

The Power of Boxing

Boxing Can Foster Social Cohesion

Boxing is more than just a sport – it’s a powerful tool that can help create social cohesion. Sanctus’s founder, Shane Thewlis, attributes the skills he’s learned through boxing to discipline and respect. A Tool for Personal Development

Thewlis states: *”Boxing can be a powerful tool to create social cohesion. *It was important to me when opening my own club that, as well as producing champions in the boxing ring, we use boxing to champion young people outside of the ring to give them the skills to build resilience in life.”*

• As a boxing club, Sanctus empowers local youth through free boxing classes and funded school holiday provision.
• They also deliver social, emotional, and mental health programmes to hundreds of young people, providing a safe and nurturing environment for growth and development.
• With its emphasis on positive youth development, Sanctus co-founder and education lead Kathryn Thewlis remarks: *”Our programmes are making a difference and were accessed by 19 schools this academic year. This year we have introduced ChatterBOX Therapy which is a unique style of talk therapy incorporating boxing training and is delivered by our cognitive behaviour therapist.”*

Awards and Recognition

The Impact of Sanctus

The club has had a profound impact on the community, making it a hub for positive change and growth for local youth. The community has taken notice of Sanctus Boxing Club’s groundbreaking efforts in youth development, fostering social cohesion, and providing support for those in need. • “It’s an absolute privilege to have received this recognition, it’s an award for all the coaches, mentors and volunteers who represent our ethos of building strong communities” – Shane Thewlis. • Sanctus has expanded its services to include SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) youth work, offering support to hundreds of young people in their first year alone. • In 2025, Sanctus has introduced the highly sought-after ChatterBOX Therapy programme, which combines talk therapy and boxing training for improved mental health outcomes. Awards will continue to come Sanctus Boxing Club’s way, as they look to continue to spread their impact across the nation. With their unparalleled dedication to creating positive change, Sanctus Boxing Club is truly at the forefront of a new generation of boxing clubs in the UK, leading the charge in innovation and social responsibility, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps and strive towards a brighter future for all.