A DISABLED youth group enjoyed learning the skills and techniques of boxing.

Boxability is a new project from Barrow youth service YouthAbility, in partnership with ABC Boxing Club, that is now running every Tuesday night at the Brook Street gym.

Youthability youth services provide both educational and meaningful activities for young people with disabilities across Barrow. They are always looking for new ways and activities that will support the young people with both their physical and emotional development on their transition to adulthood.

Due to the pandemic a lot of young people at the group had struggled with both their physical and mental health, and the group were seeking something new that would help the young people transition back in to normal society post Covid.

Youth Club team leader Leslie McLeese said he was aware of the work Jeff Moses of ABC Boxing had done over the decades for young people in the area and a positive impact it had on young health.

He said: “We invited him along to our centre to provide a taster boxing session for our young people. We had around 35 young people with mixed abilities taking part.

“Jeff was blown away with the enthusiasm and enjoyment that the young people took from this session.

“The next day he was motivated to take this further and seek funding to create a new inclusive boxing group for young people with disabilities.

“Cumbria county council funded the pilot project in late 2021, which led to the partnership."

Jeff Moses said: “It was a heartwarming feeling to see how some of them interacted they were actually involved and it was brilliant.

“The main thing is some of this group might not get invited to many other sports but in boxing they can have a go on the bags in a wheelchair, I can get them in the boxing ring and work with them one on and one.

“It’s about having fun but I also intend to develop each little squad so they can do a routine of boxing, I will definitely get one of them to the ranks of becoming a boxer.

“We’ve got a professional boxer who trains with us and his seventh professional boxing match is happening at the Reebok centre on February 18 and we’re going take some of the group through to watch and there is going be a special area for them in ring side."