The Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust opens a boxing gym in an NHS facility, granting Off The Ropes a ten-year lease.
This marks the first UK NHS site to host a dedicated boxing facility for therapeutic purposes.
The charity focuses on supporting mental health service users, young people, and individuals with neurological conditions.
Boxing Builds Health and Connection
Founder Warren Dunkley, a former boxer and occupational therapist, uses non-contact boxing to engage patients and improve well-being.
Trainers work closely with participants, helping them release energy, achieve fitness goals, and build trust with staff.
Boxing sessions offer clients social interaction, structure, and purpose, encouraging friendships and weekly attendance.
Research shows boxing reduces depression, anxiety, aggression, and boosts self-esteem, concentration, and self-agency.
Expanding Therapeutic Impact
The new gym allows Off The Ropes to support inpatients, outpatients, and people with learning disabilities, Parkinson’s, or dementia.
Dunkley emphasizes boxing as a stable anchor for clients, helping them integrate into society and regain confidence.
Sessions promote routine, personal progress, and opportunities for volunteering or employment, enhancing overall quality of life.
The charity plans to use boxing drills to address wider life goals, combining physical, social, and mental health support.
