GB Boxing is supporting its charity partners, Sheffield Mind and Roundabout, on a series of activities to promote World Mental Health Day and World Homeless Day which both take place this week on Friday 10 October 2025.
As part of an ‘Awareness Week’ Campaign, GB Boxing – which is based in Sheffield – will use its digital and social media channels to showcase the work of both organisations and demonstrate their positive impact in trying to improve the lives of people that have experienced homelessness or are suffering with mental health challenges.
The activities will utilise boxers from the World Class Programme (WCP) to highlight the importance of these issues and include a series of facilitated discussions that will enable the athletes to reflect on these topics.
Paris 2024 Olympian and 2025 World Boxing Championship bronze medallist, Chantelle Reid, said: “Acknowledging my own mental health as an athlete is so important because in boxing, it’s an individual sport, so you have got to be both mentally and physically strong. Having a support network around you – whether that be friends, family or coaches – and just being part of a community can provide you with a real sense of belonging. This can be a lonely sport at times but at GB Boxing we train together as a group which is helpful, so it’s important to have good people around you.”
Fellow World Boxing Championship bronze medallist, Callum Makin added: “I think sport or in our case, boxing, can benefit you unbelievably. I think it’ll help you to find some type of schedule, give you a way of a way of releasing any type of stress, anger, anything that’s maybe going on that you might need to release, it’ll help in that aspect.
“I think it’s vital to always check in with yourself and know that on the outside as well as on the inside that you’re OK, and if not then reaching out for help is so important. There are people out there that care, no matter the situation, and there is always a way to get the help you need.”
Sheffield Mind has been providing mental health services to people in Sheffield for more than 40 years and aims to improve wellbeing by providing support and advice to anyone experiencing a mental health problem. It’s work is client centred and aims to put users at the heart of everything. It also provides a range of accessible services designed to meet local need and works in partnership with groups and communities which are failing to engage with traditional mental health services.
Roundabout is South Yorkshire’s leading youth homelessness charity and is dedicated to supporting 16 to 25-year-olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness across Sheffield and Rotherham. It supports over 380 young people every day and recognises that each person’s journey into homelessness is unique and that while some may simply require support during a tough time, many others may have sadly experienced childhood trauma. By nurturing their resilience and identifying their skills, Roundabout aims to give young people the opportunity for a brighter, more stable future.
GB Boxing’s Chief Executive, Matt Holt, explained: “At GB Boxing, we know that mental wellbeing and stability are essential things in life, not just for athletes, but for everyone. We are proud of our continued partnerships with Sheffield Mind and Roundabout ahead of both World Mental Health Day and World Homelessness Day. Both organisations do vital work in our community, and we are committed to using our platforms and the resources of the WCP to raise awareness and have a positive impact in the local community.”
Sheffield Mind and Roundabout are GB Boxing’s official Charity Partners and have been working with the WCP since August 2024 as part of GB Boxing’s commitment to having a positive social impact and using sport to help improve the lives of young people in Sheffield and the surrounding areas.
The partnerships are designed to use the power of sport and the resources of the WCP to support the work of the two charities in helping to improve the ‘social capital’ of young people from disadvantaged communities and contribute to combatting issues related to homelessness, inequality and poor mental health.
As part of this, boxers, coaches and staff from GB Boxing have taken part in a range of fundraising activities and community focused initiatives to support Roundabout and Sheffield Mind in their activities to engage and inspire and use sport and boxing to create new opportunities for young people in the region.
