About The Heart of Hayling

The Heart of Hayling (HoH) is a GB Boxing Awards Academy that trains young boxers aged 5-18 in the art of boxing. We follow the GB Boxing Awards programme from non-contact beginner drills that teach basic stance, guard, defences and straight shots (Preliminary and Standard GB Awards) to bent arm shots and complex movement (Bronze GB Award) to conditioned sparring (Silver GB Award) and eventually to medium and heavy sparring (Gold and Platinum GB Awards). We also promote a healthy lifestyle that encompasses eating well (we provide free fruit and water to all our boxers) and regular, purposeful exercise. At our 2021 team training day, our coaches and admin staff defined the charities’ aims as follows:

At HoH we provide the opportunity for young people to have fun building confidence, resilience, physical and mental strength, social skills, and mutual respect, all within our inclusive, boxing family.

Although we do suggest a £2 donation (purely for hall hire costs), we are a club run by volunteers and we never turn a boxer away. If boxers and their families can't afford a £2 donation then they are very welcome to join in for free.

HoH sessions

All HoH sessions are on Wednesdays at Hayling Island Community Centre, Station Road.

*You must have passed your Bronze GB Award to attend this session and have a mouthguard and headgear (HoH can provide safety gear if requested in advance).

All senior boxers and over 18s wishing to compete should attend our England Boxing registered partner club on Harold Road, PO11 9LT: Hayling Amateur Boxing Club (HABC). For more information, visit their Facebook page or contact Lead HABC Coach Mike Spencer on 07710 585370.

Foundations

HoH was founded in 2018 by former Royal Navy PT instructor, field gun runner, rugby player and boxer Knox White BA (Hons) RN and local teacher Mark Coates MA (Hons) MLitt PGCE (Cantab) PGCIE RN. However, there have been five, far more vital ingredients in making HoH the extraordinary success it is today:

Firstly, The Hayling Lions, who generously provided the start-up costs, and all our other sponsors who enable us to go ‘above and beyond’ in supporting and inspiring our young boxers. Secondly, south coast boxing legend Q Shillingford MBE, whose outstanding GB Boxing Awards programme has formed the basis of our entire curriculum and whose early, excellent advice helped shape the club. Thirdly, registered charity HICCA, better known as The Hayling Island Community Centre, whose management and volunteers are so kind and supportive of everything we do. Fourthly, our army of volunteers (coaches and admin) who generously give up their time for hours every week to give young people a sense of fun and purpose and finally, the incredible support of the Hayling community (and now the whole of Havant and Emsworth) who bring their brilliant young warriors to HoH and trust us to build their confidence, courage and resilience: thank you.

HoH Coaches

Lead Coach And Club Mentor (Quality Assurance): Knox White
Lead Coaches: Mark Coates, Paul Nelhams, Stuart Grover, Paul Hawker and Barry
Club Welfare Officers: Paul Nelhams and Verity March
Senior Coaches (HoH): Luke Cooper, Scott Gravestock, Daryl Griffiths, Ian Johnson, Daisy Monkcom, Nigel Wichell
Junior Coaches: Morgan Howard, Shania Harris

Support Coaches: Heidi Griffiths, Holly Hyam, Liberty Anderson, Josh Harmsworth

The HoH Admin Team

Treasurer: Wendy '001' Coates
Club Secretary: Lisa Willis
Boxer Admissions And Personnel Support: Shirley Inkpen, Sharon Allen, Lisa Willis, Dawn (advisor on Autism.)
Junior Support Team: Livvy Coates, Shania Harris and Erin
Health And Safety: Richard 'The Kitman' Coates
Vicky Rogers of AccountArt audits our accounts and ensures we comply with all the rules and regulations expected of a registered charity
Official Photographer: Zoe Annabel
VIP Bouquets by: Debbie Nash

HoH Trustees

Chairman: Jerry Widdowson
Lead Members: Leah Turner, Michael Wilson
Admin Reps: Lisa Willis
Coach Reps: Verity March, Knox White

Friends and Patrons of HoH

Q Shillingford, MBE, Heart of Portsmouth, designed the national GB Awards which we deliver, he personally trains and certificates every one of our coaches as part of our joint quality assurance. Q is our consultant and friend.

Mikey ‘The Problem’ McKinson, the WBO Global Welterweight Champion now ranked fourth in the world behind Mikey Garcia, is our official patron. In between camps, Mikey comes along to sessions to chat to our boxers, from oldest to youngest, so they can learn from his experience and enjoy some photo ops with the champ! Mikey is an exceptional boxer and an inspirational role model now under the joint management of Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and MTK Global.

Kevin McCormack is the kit manager for Portsmouth FC (1998-present) and a former Commonwealth Games super-heavyweight boxer (British number one for 10 years and winner of three ABA titles). The Welsh former Royal Marine is a local legend in Portsmouth and the surrounding area and one of our trustees and friends.

Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire, Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, former barrister and former chairman of the New Forest National Park Authority and Verderers of the New Forest, became our second official patron on Thursday 2nd June as part of our QAVS celebrations; Oliver carried out the research and inspection for the award in 2021 and was so impressed with the Academy that he later promised he would help support our boxing community in any way he could. He is our friend and ambassador.

We are also grateful to our numerous friends and supporters in the local community, including Dave at Hayling Fruiterers, Clive at Barretts, and Jerry and his team at Hayling Print, all of whom donate cost price goods and services to our charity for the benefit of local youngsters.