N-Gage boxing club in Darlington praised for community impact

N-Gage Learning Group provides amateur boxing and fitness facilities for hundreds of children, teenagers, and adults in Firthmoor, Darlington. 

What started as a pop-up project a few years ago has now expanded into a key service helping support and improve lives. 

Now, N-Gage is helping train boxers of the future and provides a safe space for people with disadvantaged and troubled upbringings. Its motto of “discipline, respect, sportsmanship” is welcomed by all involved. 

Pete Crotty, managing director, said: “It’s somewhere for the kids to let out their aggression, keep themselves fit, and keep them out of trouble - which is really important.”

N-Gage has been supported by local Eastbourne councillor Jonathan Dulston, who has invested council funds to support the scheme. 

“In lockdown, we realised the public needed access to facilities in their area, and whether we like it or not, Firthmoor is an area of deprivation and not everyone would be able to afford to visit a gym," he said.

“We had a pot of funding and transformed a meeting room into a gym.”

But as demand increased the facilities became too small. 

Mr Crotty added: “We must have had 50 young boxers in here and we clearly needed to expand into the hall. As time went on, more and more residents were telling me they were interested in the boxing, so we’ve just built on it from there.”

N-Gage continues to thrive and is helping change the lives of locals like 16-year-old Connor. The teenager visits the boxing gym seven days a week after developing a passion for the sport. 

He said: “Having a goal and something to focus on is key for me. I feel a different person whenever I come here, I’m happy.” 

The alternative provision offering involves functional skills in maths and English, life skills, personal and social development, behavioural and self-belief programs, and fitness and exercise studies.

“We’re often finding children as young as six are being permanently excluded, so an alternative provision provider can provide a different environment,” said Mr Crotty. 

“We've got people from across the community whether they're old or young and everyone’s talking.”

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Cllr Jonathan Dulston, Joy Allen PCC and Graham Hall Deputy PCC at N-Gage in Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Cllr Dulston hopes the success of N-Gage can lead to similar schemes opening elsewhere in the town. On a recent visit, he appealed to Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen for further funding support. 

He added: “My vision for this space wasn’t for a boxing club but the community has spoken loud and clear, and by their will, we have listened, adapted, and now we have a thriving club. 

“We’re appealing to local authorities for more funding because the benefits to the community are strong. There’s no reason why other people can't have similar projects in their communities.”