Small Heath Boxing Club became The Pat Benson Boxing Academy in 2011.
Since then, the Academy has become a charitable organisation, building on the club’s strong history of social value and community cohesion.
Today, not only does the club continue to attract the country’s brightest boxing talents to its state-of-the-art facilities, it’s a hugely valuable community sports foundation, working with young people to build their confidence, resilience and self-esteem through a variety of sports programmes.
At the Pat Benson Boxing Academy, community is at the heart of everything we do. Our sports projects work with schools, community groups and individuals to cover a number of social issues and support people with their physical and mental health.
Thanks to funding from organisations such as the National Lottery, Sport England and BBC Children in Need, we are able to invest not just in the infrastructure of the club, but in our specialist staff team – which includes young people who have come up through the club – and in each and every person we support.
Our coaching and teaching facilities employ the latest equipment and techniques, supporting boxers to build not only their fitness and strength, but their discipline and team working skills.
For young boxers, Pat Benson Boxing Academy offers a modern, fresh and very well-equipped training environment, and the knowledge that they are part of one of the most successful clubs in the history of English boxing.
Although the academy’s figurehead, Pat Benson, is still very much a part of the club, the academy is now managed by Pat’s grandson Paddy Benson.
Not only is Paddy a former international boxer himself, in a career which saw him win four Midland County titles and represent his club nearly 40 times, he also brings expertise in business and managerial economics, thanks to a degree from the University of Birmingham.
As Chief Executive Officer, Paddy works full time to ensure that the Pat Benson Boxing Academy continues to represent the best of the best whilst making an important contribution to society.