Funding Reinstated for New Southend Youth and Boxing Club
September 23, 2025 | by Nabillah Akhtar
The future of Lifstan Boys Club and Southend Amateur Boxing Club has been secured after government funding for a new £1.5m building was reinstated.
The grant, originally awarded through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Youth Investment Fund, was suddenly withdrawn earlier this year, despite over £200,000 already being spent on preparatory work. Volunteers described the move as “gutting” and feared the project would collapse.
Following weeks of campaigning, including direct appeals to the Culture Secretary, the decision has now been reversed – prompting “joyous celebrations all round”, according to Southend ABC head coach Danny Neville.
Jay Solder from the Essex Boys and Girls Clubs (Image courtesy of Stuart Woodward: BBC)
The new facility will replace the ageing pre-fabricated structure on Lifstan Way, which has been home to the Boys Club since the 1960s. It will provide modern boxing facilities alongside youth and community spaces.
Jay Solder, deputy county director of Essex Boys and Girls Clubs, who helped secure the funding, said:
“The money is back but we need to make the project a reality. It’s such a vital asset for the community.”
A DCMS spokesperson confirmed the full grant is being restored, with Social Investment Business (SIB) set to continue overseeing the project.
