Knockout result for boxing club
ABOXING club is returning to its spiritual home after a £75,000 grant from Sport England.
Paramount Boxing Club signed the longawaited 10-year lease enabling them to return to Wycliffe Congregational Church in Heaton Norris – just six days before the deadline.
Based at Wycliffe since 1999, the club had to move to Whitehill Fire Station in 2014, as the church needed to undergo extensive repairs.
Funding from Sport England to refurbish the vandalised basement at the church was conditional on a lease being in place by the end of March.
Paramount founder
Mick Kenyon hopes the move will enable the club to look forward to a secure future and provide the opportunity to expand their work with different groups, including those with ADHD and ex-forces.
He said: “This will make a massive difference to not only Paramount ABC and Wycliffe Church but a generation of youngsters from Stockport and surrounding areas.”
An expensive survey on the church was funded by the National Grid who were undertaking major works at the nearby Heaton Norris Park and lawyer Matthew Powell, from K& L Gates, worked hard in order to draft the lease in time.
Paramount also had to contribute £15,000 in match funding and would like to thank Asda, the Vernon Building Society and Hits Radio Cash for
Kids for their support as well as all those who helped with bag packing and other fundraising efforts.
Also, just before the deadline with £5,000 still left to raise, former boxer and coach J & N McKenna Property Development came forward with a generous sponsorship deal to save the day.
Wycliffe Church has recently had extensive repair works funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, but has been subject to delays due to the pandemic.
They are hopeful of being able to reopen to worshippers and community groups in the near future.
Administrator/fundraiser Angela Kenrick said: “It is a huge relief to have the lease signed in time so we can welcome Paramount back and look forward to helping a wide range of people in the future”.
The club is also planning a 10-mile sponsored walk up Kinder Scout in several groups of six on April 24, to help with the move to the church. To donate visit gofundme. com and search for ‘Help Paramount ABC’.