Burntwood Town Council Celebrate Projects Success

In April 2024, Burntwood Town Council awarded two local organisations a grant of £5,000 per year for three years to provide services that support adult mental health and wellbeing, and young people.

Platinum Boxing and Burton and District Mind each received a grant, and one year, the Town Council has been celebrating the success of these projects.

Platinum Boxing based at Redwood Park have increased their class numbers for young people and splitting in to age focused groups, have centred their coaching around consequential thinking enabling young people to learn about the choices they make, inside and outside of the gym.

Steve Cadman, Head Coach in Association with England Boxing at Platinum Boxing said:

“The help from Burntwood Town Council has enabled the club to further expand on engaging with youngsters in the local area – some of the grant has been used on running costs, further equipment and enabling participants who are affected by current financial issues. I have been extremely pleased with the work of our coaches and that of the participants who have really pushed on with their discipline, fitness and skills sets.”

Cllr Laura Ennis, Chair of Burntwood Town Council said:

“It was wonderful to see what Platinum have to offer the young people in our community. The training looks hard, but everyone was working well and listening to what the coaches had to say, and it was great seeing boys and girls working well together. Platinum Boxing work hard with the young people that attend to teach them about consequential thinking, which helps young people consider their actions carefully. It great to hear that Platinum also offer free training to young people who may to struggle at the moment, no one is left out.”

Burton and District Mind have also established themselves as a new provider in Burntwood, offering services and support to adults with their mental health and wellbeing including a Music Mindfulness programme, Mind Makeover sessions for women, Creative Spaces arts project for people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and an ecotherapy project, as well as providing a venue in Burntwood for residents to access free NHS talking therapies.

Keri Lawrence, Development and Sustainability Officer at Burton and District Mind said:

“The reality is, due to the Pandemic and the Cost of Living Crisis, that more people are experiencing mental health problems than before. Burntwood Town Council and Burton and District Mind have partnered to ensure there is more mental health provision through Burntwood. The partnership has enabled us to reach out to the people of Burntwood to ask them what they would like. We thank Burntwood Town Council for the opportunity. As we move into our second year, we already have plans to work in partnership with groups involved in boxing and football, and provide more services and ideas for good mental health across Burntwood’s thriving business community.”

Cllr Di Evans, Chair of Community and Partnerships said:

“Burntwood Town Council is pleased to support Burton and District Mind’s new initiatives and help with funding to enable Burntwood residents to access mental health and wellbeing support. Help at the point of need is crucial for so many and being based locally is also important.”

Pictured: Cllr Paul Taylor, Cllr Di Evans and Cllr Laura Ennis with Steve Cadman, Head Coach in Association with England Boxing, and Coaches Paul Blakeman and John Murray.

Pictured: Cllr Di Evans and Cllr Paul Taylor with Keri Lawrence and Ben Longmore, Burton and District Mind