One of East London’s most storied amateur clubs just got a significant shot in the arm. West Ham Boxing Club has secured a £60,000 West Ham Boxing Club investment to renovate its Plaistow home and bring 100 new young members through the door. The funding comes from three separate sources, and together they signal a real commitment to the club’s future.
What the West Ham Boxing Club Investment Covers
First, it’s worth laying out exactly what this money does. The £60,000 covers a full renovation of the club’s changing rooms, showers, and youth meeting spaces. Beyond the building work, it also funds extended opening hours and new tailored sessions for young people aged eight to 18. As a result, the club expects to welcome 100 new participants once the changes come into effect.
Three funders made this happen. The National Lottery Awards for All Fund, which supports community-led grassroots projects across the UK, provided a core grant. Dulux Community Makeover brings its painting and decorating expertise to the project. Meanwhile, the Powerday Foundation adds a further financial contribution to round out the package.
A Club With Deep Roots in East London
West Ham Boxing Club has been part of the Newham landscape since 1922, when Captain Dave Myers founded it in a small army hut. Over a century later, it sits in Plaistow as the oldest amateur boxing club in the London Borough of Newham. In that time, it has produced more than 200 national champions and 50 England internationals. That record alone puts it among the most decorated clubs in British amateur boxing.
Even so, the names matter more than the numbers. Terry Spinks trained at West Ham before travelling to Melbourne as an 18-year-old and returning with Olympic flyweight gold in 1956. He remains the youngest Briton ever to win an Olympic boxing gold medal. Nigel Benn and Kevin Mitchell also came through the club. So did European champion Viddal Riley, who racked up eight national titles as an amateur before turning professional. In short, this is a club that has shaped British boxing at every level.
The Powerday Foundation’s Role in the West Ham Boxing Club Investment
The Powerday Foundation brings a long track record to this West Ham Boxing Club investment. Founded in 2011 as the charitable arm of London-based waste management company Powerday, the foundation has spent over a decade channelling money and resources into boxing clubs across the capital. According to the Powerday Foundation’s own records, it has invested over £15.5 million into London clubs in hard-to-reach areas, supporting more than 90 estate-based boxing venues and reaching 40,000 participants.
Edward Crossan, CEO of Powerday, spoke directly about the project. He said the foundation feels proud of its support for boxing clubs across London and sees this latest project as an opportunity to give more young people access to top-quality facilities and coaching.
Dean Hollington, chairman of West Ham Boxing Club, added his thanks. He praised the National Lottery, Dulux, and the Powerday Foundation for enabling facilities that young people in Newham genuinely deserve.
What the West Ham Boxing Club Investment Means for Young People in Newham
Beyond the bricks and mortar, the real story here involves young people. Newham ranks among the most deprived boroughs in England, and clubs like West Ham have long offered a safe space for young people who need one. Extended hours and new sessions mean more access for more young boxers, particularly for those who struggle to attend during standard times.
Furthermore, the investment signals a broader pattern. Earlier in 2026, the Powerday Foundation backed a similar renovation at Repton Boxing Club in Bethnal Green. Together, these projects point to a growing push to modernise the infrastructure of East London’s grassroots boxing scene. For a sport that often punches well above its weight in terms of Olympic and professional output, keeping the amateur base strong matters enormously.
If you follow amateur boxing in the UK, the next generation of talent is likely already training in a club like this one. Keep an eye on West Ham as the new facilities come online and those 100 new members start their journeys.
