Mental health group asks Sheffielders to donate just £1 each to make boxing sessions more accessible

Mental Mate runs weekly boxing classes at Knox Gym, in West Bar, during and after which participants are encouraged to discuss their mental health and any worries, anxieties and problems they may have.

The group has launched the ‘Poundin Mental Health’ campaign in which it aims to raise £3,000 to allow more people to take part in the sessions, no matter what their income.

Daniel Barton, founder of the Mental Mate, said the donations will also enable the group to grow and help those who are suffering during these unprecedented times.

He said: “What we’re trying to do is get 3,000 people to put £1 in towards our campaign which will help us make our sessions a lot more accessible.

"Currently we have to charge £5 per person to cover rent and things like that and costs but hopefully what we’re trying to do is, even if we can get to £1,000, what that would enable us to do is discount the sessions to £2 or £3 initially to make it more accessible for people to come down.

"It just allows us to do a lot more. The £3,000 would help us pay for equipment for all the new users and all that kind of stuff.”

Daniel launched Mental Mate in January after using boxing to combat his own mental health struggles, going on to use his own positive experience to help others living in the city.

He was unable to run classes during lockdown but, as restrictions eased, he secured more boxing equipment so the group could have their own in a bid to avoid cross-contamination.

Now, as Sheffield looks to move to Tier 3 covid alert level on Saturday, the future looks uncertain.

Daniel added: “We’re now unsure on how we will deliver the sessions or if we'll be able to open. I’m thinking of maybe taking the group out to a park area or something while we’re in this Tier 3 – anything we can do to keep people’s mental health up.”

Donations are being made through PayPal as there is no minimum limit.

For more information visit @MateMental on Twitter.

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