Two men have a vision of community facility on the site
The building on the Lennox Estate that they want to become a boxing gym
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A proposal is being made to turn the derelict Lennox Youth Centre in Roehampton into a community boxing gym.
Joseph Lagden and his partner Mark have put together plans which they have presented to Wandsworth Council. Joseph ran the youth club on the estate for three years.
They plan to takeover the disused building and use it as a facility to offer nominal cost training and mentoring to young people from estates in Putney and Roehampton. The building currently cannot be used as a youth club due to issues with the electrics and the pipes.
The hope is that Wandsworth Council will be persuaded to allow them to operate in the building on a five year lease at a peppercorn rent.
The low cost classes for local youngsters will be paid for by money raised from boxing classes offered to people from outside the estate which will be charged at market rates. The intention would also be to create a registered boxing club and for the club members to attend tournaments within the UK to build both the reputation of the club and the individuals.
Business man Mark says, “As a young man in the late ‘60’s early ‘70’s I was an amateur boxer in the British Schoolboys, Championships, London Boys Clubs and took part in various local boxing tournaments during this period.
“This helped me achieve fitness, curb my frustrations, gain confidence and rely on myself. I have taken these skills into my career which have formed my views on both business and health.
“It was always my intention one day to help build an amateur boxing club in a deprived area where I could fund, manage and create opportunities for disadvantaged children to learn discipline, burn off excess energy and gain confidence/self-esteem.
“To this end I am now turning 60 years old and have been reasonably successful in my business life, so I would like to this vision into a reality.”
Mark is offering to fund the building works and employ one or two boxing trainers who will also help to identify boxing talent from the estate.
The proposal has been put to the council and they are waiting to hear back.
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April 23, 2021
