Using sport & physical activity to give Stockport a BOOST since 2017
All about BOOST.
BOOST Wellbeing CIC is a Stockport based social enterprise, established in October 2017 with the purpose of using sport and physical activity for social good. Our primary focus is on developing and delivering an accessible programme of sport and physical activities in support of people with mental ill health and those experiencing loneliness and social isolation.
What we do
We deliver a weekly programme of sport and activity sessions at a range of gyms, studios and centres across Stockport, including football, boxing, circuit training, walking and yoga. If we don’t do it and you need it, we’ll do our best to get you sorted!
Our sessions are delivered by qualified instructors and professionals. Equipment is provided where required and sessions are free to those who have been referred to the BOOST programme.
Why is this important?
NHS England, in their ‘Long Term Plan’, has recognised that physical activity and social interaction are important non-clinical interventions and forms of social prescribing that complement more clinical means of support, treatment and therapy for mental health.
Pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 prevented community groups and organisations from providing that vital and often personal support for our most disadvantaged residents. Similarly, community group activities had to cease due to social distancing and even when such restrictions were lifted, service providers face a real challenge in re-engaging vulnerable individuals who may be facing increased feelings of anxiety, loneliness, low self-confidence, financial hardship and extremely poor mental health.
We believe that providing additional support to local community organisations through our BOOST sessions gives them another vehicle with which to engage with their service users. These relationships can also be reciprocal. We see people participating in BOOST sessions who, whilst suffering from poor mental health, may not have previously engaged with local support services and our role will be to reach out to these new people and to signpost them to partner organisations.
“I know how important sport has been to me since childhood and I know that I’ve often been at my lowest when not particularly active. So if we can provide people with an opportunity to access regular sport and physical activity in an environment that is fun, safe and enjoyable, then we can help them to make the changes they want to make. It’s so inspiring to see our BOOST participants engaging every week, sometimes out of their comfort zone, supported by instructors who provide real empathy and support along the way.”
— Steve Flynn, Founder of BOOST Wellbeing C.I.C.
How it all started…
BOOST Wellbeing C.I.C. was first formed in October 2017 by sports professional, Steve Flynn. It followed a 20+ year career working in professional and elite sport across the globe and a desire within Steve to deliver activities more locally and within communities.
With the support of Sport England and GreaterSport, Steve was able to deliver his first programme for local carer charity, Signpost. This involved providing sporting experiences for Signpost’s young carers including a few sessions at champion boxer John Murray’s local gym in Reddish. Boxing piqued Steve’s interest and after plucking up the courage to take his first lesson, at the age of 47, he was soon training 3 times a week alongside a group of early risers for the daily 6am session.
The impact on mental and physical wellbeing was quickly evident and inspired Steve to consider creating his only weekly class and with the support of the Brinnington Big Local fund, he established the ‘In Your Corner’ boxing sessions, firstly for men and soon followed by a weekly women’s group.
In Your Corner evolved into BOOST and a wider range of activities. Lockdown saw weekly boxing, circuit and yoga sessions delivered online and as restrictions eventually eased, BOOST has been able to return to delivering both outdoor and indoor sessions, in person. Seeing the positive effect that the sessions have had on people’s mood and wellbeing is what really motivates Steve and the great network of BOOST instructors and coaches who deliver weekly sessions.