‘It will destroy a whole community’: Croydon boxing club hit with eviction notice by council
A community boxing club which works to get young men off the streets and out of gangs is facing homelessness after the council asked for the building back.
Charnwood Boxing Academy (CBA) took over the former site of South Norwood & Victory Amateur Boxing Club (ABC) in Charnwood Road, Thornton Heath 18 months ago after being handed the keys by Croydon council.
But head coach and founder Patrick Boothe is now fighting to keep the building after being served an eviction notice by the local authority, ordering the club to vacate the premises by February 14.
Mr Boothe said: “It took us two years to find a site. Everything is closed or defunded in Croydon and it’s left the kids with nothing. They have nowhere to go.
“This one is perfect but now they want to take it away from us, destroying a whole community.”
About 30 boys – 21 of which are carded boxers with England Boxing – are registered with the club, with membership growing each week.
In the past 18 months, CBA boxers have won three London Championship titles, one Box Cup Championship and one England Championship.
Among the decorated members are Mr Boothe’s two sons, Anituel, 19, and Abraham, 16, who both won their age category finals at the London Youth & Intermediate Development Championships last month.
Mr Boothe said: “We are in the middle of the boxing season. It would destroy the hopes and dreams of so many who are hoping to enter the two biggest box cups coming up.”
But for Mr Boothe, boxing is about much more than winning.
He said: “It’s counselling, it’s helping to solve social problems, developing self awareness.
“Boxing helps them get through life, as tough as it is. We’re trying to keep them out of gangs and away from violence.”
Last year Croydon was named as the violence hotspot of London, according to data assessed by defence solicitors Lawtons.
The borough reported more than 10,000 violent instances in 2023 alone, marking a five per cent year-on-year increase.
Mr Boothe said: “We have social workers accompanying some of the boys down to the club or calling up to make sure they’re there.”
Three hour sessions are run every evening from Monday to Friday, led by Mr Boothe and fellow coach David Simpson.
Mr Boothe said: “The boys are focused, the sessions are building them into young men who know what it takes to be determined. There is so much potential here.”
Croydon council did not respond to comment at the time we went to press.
Pictured top: Charnwood Boxing Academy fighters showing their support for Anituel Boothe, who won the London Youth & Intermediate Development Championships last month (Picture: CBA)