INSPIRATIONAL Gillian Dipple is an example to many at Redditch Boxing Academy and she has called on more disabled people to take up the noble art.
Gillian has overcome many issues in her own life due to her disability and has gone on to play an integral part in the community by volunteering her time to help others.
A sign of her success is her qualification as a boxing coach under the umbrella of England Boxing at Redditch Boxing Academy and she is keen to continue helping others to become involved with the club by participating in her regular inclusive boxing classes.
Redditch Boxing Academy manager Sarah Lee said: “With the right environment and support, she is now playing an active role in contributing to her community and in helping the boxing club with its mission.
“Gillian is passionate about helping others to regain confidence in themselves and better their own lifestyle.
“With this in mind and the support of the academy, Gillian has set up a regular inclusive boxing class designed to help other people who have similar challenges.
“She is such a credit to the academy and the community. We are lucky to have her, but Gillian’s challenges do highlight some of the issues that people with disabilities do face and it’s very real.”
Even in today’s modern society with equal opportunities, she struggled countless times in the workforce due to her continuous accidents and falling over.
This made it very difficult for her to find a place of work where she could fit in and in many cases also resulted in her losing work.
Gillian suffered with low confidence due to the problems she had faced when she started volunteering at Redditch Boxing Academy more than five years ago, but since then she has never looked back.
Gillian’s work with the classes will be supported by fellow volunteer Louise Cheshire, who also has disabilities and uses a wheelchair. The classes will run every Wednesday between 11am and noon.
The sessions will not only give people the chance to learn and develop skills but also socialise with others who can relate. They will be run out of the academy which is based in Matchborough Centre and will be open to people of any age and with any disability.
The classes will cost £5 per session. First session is free and every fourth session which follows is also free.
Gillian said: “I hope these classes help achieve the confidence members need to follow their dreams, as without Sarah’s confidence in me I wouldn’t have believed I could achieve my own.
“Everyone can learn to box, we’re not any different from others, we just do things in a different way.”
Visit www.redditchboxing.co.uk, contact Gillian Dipple on 07599 268895 or or email [email protected].
