A COMMUNITY boxing club has been given a helping hand with hundreds of pounds of funding.

Dorchester Amateur Boxing Club received a £400 donation from Synergy’s neighbourhood panel Zone 3.

Ben Geyser, who founded the club in 2003 and is one of the five volunteer coaches, said learning to box helps youngsters build confidence and stay out of trouble.

Mr Geyser said: “Anybody who wants to can come along and we often get children who’ve been bullied.

“It’s really good for them because it builds up their confidence.”

The club meets three times a week at the Territorial Army Centre in Dorchester and is open to children aged 11 and over.

It is also a registered charity and relies on donations to fund equipment and facilities.

Mr Geyser said: “It’s really nice to get the funding from Synergy because quite a few of the children are from Synergy houses.

“We’re also doing a big Fun Day in Littlemoor this August, so that ties in as well.

“The funding will be used for new equipment, mainly gloves and nets.”

He added: “We’re hoping to get an afternoon or a Saturday session running in Littlemoor. Costs would have to be covered but we would really love to do it.

“The funding is great and we always need anything like that.”

Mr Geyser has been boxing since he was 10 and coaching for over 20 years.

He said: “A lot of boys come from difficult backgrounds and if it wasn’t for the boxing club they would probably wobble off course.

“We’ve turned many a rough boy into a cut diamond.”