Football and Boxing for Eastbourne

Who are we?

Eastbourne Borough Football Club and Eastbourne Boxing Club are joining forces to accelerate the exceptional impact we have had in the community over past years. Both clubs have a track record of not only sporting success, but in having a measurable and significant impact on the lives of the people of Eastbourne. Together, we will reach out to as many demographics across our town to ensure everybody can be enagaged in the many health and social benefits of sport. 

Community impact

Once we have built a shared facility at Eastbourne Borough's Priory Lane Stadium, we have multiple plans to work with a variety of groups across the Eastbourne area. 

Intended plot for gym construction above

They will be;

At risk children - We currently work with several schools to help create behavioural interventions to ensure children stay in full time education. With our new facility, we would extend this service to the community exponentially.

65+ - The average age of Eastbourne is 71.1 years of age vs 39.7 in the rest of Britain. We feel it is vital that people in this age group have the opportunities to exercise in a suitable facility with well trained coaches. Then a place to socialise afterwards to help with physical, mental and social cohesion.

Female only classes - As the fastest growing demographic in boxing, we will continue to provide female only sessions to help remove barriers to participation for females.

Obese and Diabetes - This is on the rise. It is vital that we provide bespoke sessions to target individuals identified or at risk with obesity and diabetes. EBFC currently run weekly successful sessions to tackle obesity in men through the 'Man v Fat' initiative. Our venture would additionally offer boxing too with weekly targeted sessions.

Local schools both primary and secondary - Offering football and boxing as a vehicle to a lifelong involvement in sport, we will be offering day time sessions for local schools as well as sending coaches out to the schools to deliver term time boxing sessions. This will also target hard to reach children.

Pictured Above - Former Club Captain Adrianne Phebey competing for England in the 3 Nations

Why are we crowdfunding & How we’ll spend the money raised

Our goal is to build a bespoke boxing facility as well as gymnasium for the community to use. Before we can bid for the significant amounts to build the gym, we require funds to pay for a draftsman to create the official plans as well as pay for several required surveys which feed in to planning permission. 

They are;

Planning Application Fee - £5,114.20. We have met with a planning consultant from CLM Planning Ltd who has quoted us this amount for a 'large build' which we are proposing. Within this consultation, he also gave us breakdown of the other statutory survey requirements, which are;

Ecological Survey - To ensure that the build has little to no impact on the near-by common land. £700.

Flood Risk Assessment & Surface Water Draining Strategy - £2,000.

Transport Assessment - The build will take away approximately 25 parking spaces in the overflow parking lot where the gym is to be built. We will be using an unused piece of the land to replace this (land owned by Eastbourne Borough F.C CIC). This assessment is to ensure that the build has little to no adverse impact on the local traffic and residential area. £1,500.

Archaelogical Assessment - The site (joined on to the South Stand) as the full ground is, is located in a historical area (1066 country) and so requires an assessment to ensure that the build does not impact on any potential important historical artifacts. £1,500.

Planning Consultancy - To guide and support through the process. £2,000

Total - £12,814.20

Below are some of the angles of the initial designs for the build which show it in conjunction to the South Stand at EBFC CIC.

Help us start our project in ernest so we can set the wheels in motion to begin to set up this incredible venture for the community.

How Our Project Will be United by Birmingham 2022

Both the sports of football and boxing have profound legacies upon their communities. We believe it is essential to build upon the messages and ongoing influence which the Commonwealth Games In Birmingham has created. Our project wholly aligns with this legacy. 

Bring People Together

Eastbourne has a very diverse population. We should celebrate a reflect this within opportunities to participate in sport. Through a facility which can physically cater for large numbers across multiple demographics, we will continue to attract, celebrate and facilitate participation at any level for all of our membership. 

Improve Health & Wellbeing

It is a social and ethical responsibility of ours to ensure we are enhancing physical and mental well-being. Through offering more ability level sessions which are tailored towards either health, participation or performance we will be inclusive so to meet the individual needs of our membership as opposed to blanket coaching delivery which does not facilitate a 'needs centred approach.'

Help the Region to Grow & Succeed

The Commonwealth Games at a performance level perspective has shown us that as a country we celebrate one of the most diverse sporting nations where everyone has the opportunity to excel in a wide range of sports. Through developing our new facility we will continue to attract more volunteers. Volunteers whom we will invest in, in terms of CPD and the many intangibles of being part of a community club, helping the people of Eastbourne to thrive. Here we can develop life-long skill sets which do not just become isolated to an individual sport, but become role models within the community to aid in social cohesion to all who enter our doors. Sport is for all. Our ethos is, ‘One Community, One Club.’ 

Be a Catalyst for Change

The Commonwealth Games have shown how communities have come together to promote lasting cohesiveness across otherwise isolated communities. 

Economically, there are extremely impoverished areas of the Eastbourne community. We will ensure our membership is wholly affordable in comparison to commercial gyms which not only offer affordable opportunities to participate in sport but to integrate with a range of people across many demographics in our area. We wish to become a micro example of the impact which the Commonwealth Games is sure to measure in the forthcoming years. And, with the huge range of professions, skill sets and volunteer workforce at the disposal of the boxing and football clubs together, we have the expertise, commitment and drive to ensure measurable, actual change in our community. Success in which we can all enjoy now and for decades to come.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. Create a fundraiser of your own. Use the button on our page to get started. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!