North Yorkshire boxing club set up to support homeless women "changing lives"
Women tell us how the sessions are helping build their confidence
We're hearing how a boxing club in York is helping rebuild the confidence of women who've experienced homelessness.
The sessions at the Salvation Army were originally set up for those sleeping rough but are now open to all women.
This woman tells us it's helped turn her life around: "I didn't think I would like it at first, it's a good laugh, you get to meet other women and it's great."
"I was stuck in addiction but ever since coming here, it's really helped".
"It's improved my mental health, I never used to have any confidence now I'm like the most confident person because of Charlie and his lessons."
Charlie Malarkey runs the gym: "As soon as people walk through that door they are treated equally, it doesn’t matter what their background is. I can’t tell you how good it’s been for improving people’s mental and physical health. Watching people’s confidence improve with each session is fantastic."
“There are people who are struggling, their housing situation may be tricky or they are battling an addiction. Being in this environment gives me the chance to get to know them and find out what else we can do to support them. This is all part of The Salvation Army’s outreach work in the community.
“People have told me they like the atmosphere here, everyone gets along and it’s not intimidating. We have a laugh and joke with each other."
"The physical health is massive but it's getting them involved, we've got a lady who is just coming in now, who maybe won't take part in a lot of what is going on but just to be part of what is going on is what she comes in for."
"Some of them do open up which is good, they might have a therapist but a lot of them mask things when they talk to a doctor, but a lot of them do open up here with the friends that they are making."