London Aba And Powerday Report On Two Years Of Success

In their recent report, the London ABA has set out a story of success and the growth of the sport driven by their partnership with Powerday. The report refers to the drive and generosity of Powerday’s Chairman, Mick Crossan, which has ensured the sport’s growth in London and the significance of the contribution the London ABA make to the national. The wide reaching benefits have been directed to clubs through resource, capital funding and partnerships with a variety of stakeholders including many local authorities and community organisations.

Powerday has a long term sponsorship agreement with the London ABA, the agreement is for four years and worth over £150,000. This is the first ever regional commercial boxing partnership created to support localised activity and development, and through the ‘New Commercial Funding’ to London ABA from Powerday, the effect has been very positive and it has helped London ABA build a ‘fit for purpose’ regional support structure, developing and supporting the sport, participants and the 120 clubs and projects across London.

Powerday has also created and funded the first ever Corporate Athlete Bursary Scheme for young boxers from the London ABA area. Each of the eight young recipients was given an annual bursary award to assist their development and support their travel and training costs. The scheme is an annual programme and is having positive effect already on this year’s successful applicants, as the funding is helping fill the funding the gap and slippage between regional and national funding and supporting the boxers on their performance pathway. Included in this Bursary, O’Neills, the sports clothing specialist who also provide all kit to London Irish Rugby Club, kindly produced and supplied tracksuits, t-shirts, sweat tops and kit bags for all the Bursary award winners. This high quality clothing identifies the successful applicants and reflects the prominent position they have achieved.

Funding and grants attracted through London ABA/Powerday Development Programmes of Activity over the last two years and detailed in the report are as follows: total investment of £5.75 million sourced through the London ABA/ Powerday development programme has been directly paid either to clubs or through financial commitments by London Boroughs and partners by way of subsidised agreements for clubs. This £5.75million of investment has nearly trebled the £2million total targeted and identified within the London Whole Sport Plan 2013/17 and indeed exceeded that target by a further £3.75million in the last two years of activity and development.

This positive pro-active activity and development has been based upon a strong strategy and commitment to community sport, places London ABA is in a very strong position to deliver impact in local communities even further whilst growing and sustaining participation and delivering excellence at all levels for participants, clubs, coaches and volunteers, thereby under-pinning the Sport England, England Boxing and Government targets for community sport participation.

Commenting on the report Mick Crossan said: “I am delighted that the London ABA have been able to stimulate so many benefits using the Powerday sponsorship as a springboard. Their commitment to promoting the positive outcomes in participation in sport and the development of talent is second to none and Powerday takes great pride in our association with the team at the London ABA and the outcomes they are achieving”.

Read the full report here.