Bolton's Elite Boxing runs veteran training sessions

The sessions were set up at Halliwell’s Elite Boxing gym, which has now become famed for being where Olympic heroine Cyndi Ngamba first trained, by Hughie Benson.

Hughie left the army four years ago and has since run veterans, as well as setting up the Pheniks Division for youngsters who are struggling to find their way.

He said: “But it’s more than just the boxing with the seminars and classes guest speakers are brought in to discuss issues faced by veterans in 2024, financial, addiction, housing, mental trauma and more.

“Being able to talk about these issues is hugely helpful to them.

Members have been able to go out on walks and trips (Image: Elite Boxing)

“And collectively we find out more about what’s available for veterans in society.”

Thanks to Hughie’s guidance, Elite Boxing has been offering social support and networks for both serving and ex-members of the armed forces.

So far 57 veterans have benefited from the boxing gym’s help over the last for years.

The gym gives members a place to train (Image: Elite Boxing)

Hughie said: “We’ve had lads and ladies come in that have not spoken with or been around soldiers since they left service, no real mates and no outlet outside of work or home.

“They’ve come not having conversations with people on one to one for days to build up a friendship circle here.

“They now go to each other’s houses for Christmas dinners go away on holidays joined the same gyms we also get tickets to watch the pros from elite that often drop in to assist with coaching a small way of giving something back.

Veterans have benefited in all kinds of ways (Image: Elite Boxing)

“There’s a massive social aspect to it and somewhere to vent, that’s hugely important.”

Over the years Veterans Boxing has been supported by the Maverick Star Trust, Bolton Wanderers Remembrance Group and the Spearhead Foundation.

But it has mostly been self-funded by Elite Community Hub and Pheniks Division so organisers are always grateful for any further support from the community.

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Hughie said: “And there’s a crossover with Ricky’s Club, the men’s Mental Health Group at Elite, some people go there and want to go into boxing, and they come through because they’ve seen how it’s benefited the friends they’ve met.”

He added: “Everyone has different fitness goals.

“We’ve got amputees, and at the top end, we’ve got six veterans who’ve gone on to have fights.

“A lot of the people who come here have experience in PTSD and trauma.

“To reconnect with that soldiering experience, we do some residentials where we call them soldier one last time.

“You know, we get out in society go to Rivington go camping that kind of thing.”