Beth’s volunteering is a knockout
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Published 24 Oct 2024 in Colleagues
Fullbrook Store Manager Beth Smith has been boxing competitively since the age of 17. More recently, she’s begun coaching young people at her local boxing gym, picking up an accolade for her community spirit in the process. This is her remarkable story.
Beth Smith, Store Manager at Fullbrook Food store
“I was always quite sporty at school, but when I left I wasn’t doing any sports and fancied trying something new. My dad knew the owner of the Tamworth Boxing Club and so he took me down, and it went from there.
“When I started out, I was boxing competitively and fought in 10 bouts. But then after Covid something changed and I realised I fancied coaching. I’ve always wanted to work with children and when my coach asked me to help with the session before mine, I did, and it just stuck.”
Boxing turned into coaching for Beth
Proud to be recognised
“I have recently achieved my England Boxing Level 2 Coaching qualification and I now volunteer six hours a week coaching four sessions for children aged 11 to 16. I also give up some weekends and evenings to take boxers to competitions.
“We have recently had our yearly awards and I was so proud to be handed Clubman of the Year in recognition of how committed I am to the club and how much time I spend there, both training and helping out with coaching.”
What I love most about coaching
“I really enjoy getting to know the young people at the gym as they are real little characters, and they keep you entertained. It’s a really good club and all the children are respectful and make sure no one gets left out – it’s a great little community. It’s amazing seeing them going from being nervous when they first start to progressing and getting good at it a few weeks or months down the line.
“For instance, there is one lad around 14 or 15 who came to our gym only having done a little bit of boxing before. I’ve been coaching him for a year now and he was my first corner I took as a coach. Recently he boxed in the Midlands Box Cup and made it to the semi-finals. Boxing is what he really wants to do and he aspires to go to the Olympics, which is amazing!”
Volunteering to coach the next generation
The Tamworth Boxing Club that Beth volunteers at
Fitting it all in
“I train Monday to Thursday and so on those days I work an early shift, then grab something to eat before going for a run, then it’s straight to the gym for training until 9pm. People do think I’m a bit mad, but I like to be busy and find it good to switch my brain off a bit.
“I think volunteering is great because it’s a change of scenery and the chance to do something a bit different, otherwise life can get repetitive. There are so many different ways to volunteer so maybe mix it up and try something you wouldn’t usually do. If you’re thinking about doing something I would say, just go for it.”
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