Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1        At the request of Alderman Kingston, the Council agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting of the People and Communities Committee outlining the level of support being provided within the Boxing Strategy to those clubs in the City which were affiliated to the Northern Ireland Boxing Association.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Consider the content of the report.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Belfast City Council agreed an Amateur Boxing Strategy for the city for the period 2012 – 2022. Council agreed a budget of £200,000 per annum across the first three years of strategy delivery. A steering group was established made up of representatives from Belfast City Council, County Antrim Boxing, Ulster Boxing Council, Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) and Sport Northern Ireland.

3.2       The strategy action plan is structured with five thematic areas; coach education, club support, events, pathways and governance. To assist with the development of pathways into the sport for people under-represented in the sport, two Community Coaches were recruited to drive participation in schools and community settings. A Sports Development Officer was recruited to enhance the club support and governance themes by working directly with potential clubs, new clubs and existing clubs with governance and development planning. Specific budgets were allocated to provide established clubs with coach education and events.

3.3       Contact with boxing clubs for baseline assessments and access to support through the strategy are through the IABA’s list of affiliated Belfast based clubs and Belfast City Council’s sports groups’ database. This ensures that newly formed groups which are not currently eligible for grant funding can avail of development support through a wide range of Council services including Sports Development Officers in areas such as governance, club development support and coach education.  

3.4       During the period of the strategy a new representative body, titled the Northern Ireland Boxing Association (NIBA), has formed with a number of existing clubs shifting their affiliation to this body and new clubs formed. As a Governing Body of Sport it is not recognised by any of the Home Countries Sports Council’s nor affiliated to the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA). The NIBA is not represented on the Belfast Boxing Strategy Steering Group. Clubs affiliated to governing bodies which are not currently recognised are ineligible for grant funding for training or competitions by Belfast City Council. Boxers who wish to represent either Ireland or Great Britain at the highest level have agreed protocols for their support and development through the four Home Countries boxing associations.  NIBA clubs can access development support through the sports development officers.

3.5       Grant funding from the Belfast Boxing strategy has not been given to Belfast boxing clubs which are not affiliated to the IABA. Support for development activities such as development planning, budgeting, marketing etc. was offered to all 33 clubs on the Belfast City Council database, although no clubs affiliated to NIBA accepted. At the request of two Belfast based NIBA clubs, Belfast City Council has removed their details from the sports clubs database and it is not possible to directly contact these clubs to offer development support.

3.6       Financial Implications

            Direct financial support for the boxing strategy ended on 31 March 2017. People and Communities Committee of 7 March 2017 approved an amount of up to £24,000 to be ring-fenced from the Support for Sport budget for delivery of a programme of events organised by the IABA. Council on 3 July 2017 approved an amount of £45,000 from Strategic Policy and Resources for a programme of work by the IABA to support ongoing delivery of the boxing strategy.

3.7       Equality or Good Relations Implications

            No implications.”

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.