Two youth groups in Hyndburn have each received a £500 boost from a school’s ex-pupils’ fund for good causes.

Accrington Grammar School Old Boys’ Association made the donations to Fairfield Boxing Club, Accrington, for new gloves and head guards for its junior boxers.

The 1st St Paul’s Scout Group, Oswaldtwistle, also received a donation to improve disabled access at its headquarters in Straits.

Although Accrington Grammar School’s last intake of pupils was in 1975, before it changed to a comprehensive as Moorhead High, former-pupils still meet and hold events to top up the group’s charity fund.

The group invited applications for grants in its latest round of donations and chose Fairfield Boxing Club and 1st St Paul’s Scout Group as this round’s recipients.

Lancashire Telegraph: Linden Charnley (second from right), president and treasurer of AGSOB, with Scouts’ treasurer Matthew Walmsley, chairman Mark Shackleton, group lead volunteer Craig Fishwick and old boys’ chairman Geoff SnapeLinden Charnley (second from right), president and treasurer of AGSOB, with Scouts’ treasurer Matthew Walmsley, chairman Mark Shackleton, group lead volunteer Craig Fishwick and old boys’ chairman Geoff Snape (Image: AGSOB)

Fairfield Boxing Club began life in 2020 as a free outdoor fitness group led by husband-and-wife Scott and Annabel Parsons, from Clayton-le-Moors.

 They found premises at a former factory in Charter Street, Accrington, and created a gym using mainly donated second-hand equipment.

Both qualified boxing coaches, they run training sessions for more than 20 boys and girls aged from just under six to 14, and some over-14s, ladies boxing-for-fitness, and family fitness sessions.

St Paul’s Cub and Scout group has upgraded its HQ at Straits, Oswaldtwistle, with new windows and roof insulation, and now aims to install a wider door and outside ramp to make it more disabled-friendly and useful for other community groups.

The group has more than 20 cubs and beaver scouts and is the venue for regular first-aid training for East Lancashire Scouting, as well as playing host to guides and brownies.

The Accrington Grammar School Old Boys’ Association committee has also agreed a £500 grant for equipment for American flag football, a non-contact version of American football based at Mount Carmel High School, which will be presented to the school at a later date.