Boxing legend Frank Bruno shares dream to help Northampton win battle against mental health

Boxing superstar Frank Bruno has created a gym in Northampton where mental wellbeing and sport go hand in hand. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.

Boxing legend Frank Bruno has set out his dream to help Northampton win the struggle with mental health one round at a time.

After nearly two years of planning, the champion heavyweight will soon be ready to welcome the town to the Frank Bruno Academy Boxing Club as a place where mental well-being and sport go hand in hand.

The academy, which has been built through a complete renovation of the Standens Barns Community Centre, will offer anyone over the age of 10 who is struggling with their mental health a place to use exercise and company to work through what's on their minds.

Standens Barns Community Centre has been completely renovated to create the academy. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.

Yesterday (October 29), Frank welcomed the Chronicle & Echo and borough councillors to the academy to talk about his vision for the centre.

Frank said: "I have been dreaming of this for a long time. It's giving me goosebumps.

"I know what struggling with mental health is like. I was sectioned five times. I've been there, done it and got the t-shirt. I know a lot about it.

"I want this gym to be a place where people can get away from their worries and stress, where people won't take the mickey and they can talk through what's on their minds."

Pictured left to right: councillor Brandon Eldred, Stefans Jewellers' Wesley Suter, Frank Bruno and foundation member Nick Smith. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.

The newly-renovated community centre will offer the 12-week 'Round By Round' course by The Frank Bruno Foundation to people aged over 10 through a mental health referral.

Through weekly mental wellbeing sessions and non-contact boxing, Frank hopes to give people a chance to build their self-confidence through sport and social events.

Frank said: "The people of Standens Barns have been very, very nice to me. I cannot wait to get the gym up and going and welcome everyone. It will be a place where we can teach love, respect and discipline.

"This year is going to be a record breaker for people going through stress. It's a very trying time for people.

"I want to thank everyone who has been so kind to donate time and labour to the renovations to make this happen."

The Standens Barns Community Centre has been completely renovated to create the academy. Northampton builders and contractors donated more that £50,000 worth of materials and labour to make it happen.

It includes a brand new shower area with toilets and a heated gym, decorated with striking murals of Frank in action.

Borough council cabinet member for finance Brandon Eldred said the gym has been nearly two years in the making after Frank approached the council in 2019.

He said: "Before the renovations began, nearly every window in the community centre was broken. It's a complete transformation that I hope will do so much for Standens Barns and Northampton.

"When you get something like this and someone like Frank Bruno saying he wants to make Northampton his base, it's a no brainer. I feel such a buzz to see this happen."

The preview yesterday came as part of a cheque presentation by Northampton's-own Stefans Jewellers, who raised more than £5,500 for the Frank Bruno Foundation through the sale of bespoke gold boxing glove pendants.