How Better Minds Boxing is creating community through fitness and friendship

On a quiet Sunday evening in Stockport, the fourth floor of Welkin Mill rings with the rhythm of boxing gloves hitting pads, the sound of laughter between mates, and an occasional clinking of tea mugs.

It is a happy and healthy scene of men staying fit while sharing how they are feeling in a healthy environment.

But it wasn’t always this way. In many ways, Better Minds Boxing was born out of the unimaginable.

When Lee Boshir went through a tragedy, losing his child, he had no idea what to do or where to turn. Ross Gaskell was also going through a period of bad mental health, as the pressures of everyday life mounted up. Ross set up the Boxing Group, and the pair combined their efforts to create something special.

Lee said: “After losing my little boy, I needed something, anything, that gave me space to breathe. Helping set up Better Minds Boxing with Ross gave me that. It’s just a couple of hours every few weeks, but for me and a lot of others, it makes a massive difference.”

The pair, who wanted to improve their mental health through staying fit, combined to form an inclusive boxing group where everyone can feel welcome and appreciated.

Better Minds Boxing

Introducing Better Minds Boxing. A free men’s mental health and wellbeing group born from the desire to simply talk about how they were feeling and share the burdens of everyday life.

But this isn’t your typical boxing gym. There are no egos and no competitions (well, only friendly competition!). There’s certainly no pressure to perform.

Set up by close friends Lee Boshir and Ross Gaskell, the group began just seven months ago with a handful of men and a couple of punching bags.

Now, it draws up to 30 regulars every other Sunday, and has created a powerful and supporting community of peers backing each other up.

The aim of the boxing club is to provide a safe space for men who may be going through a tough time with their own mental health and maybe want to try something different to improve, along with their wellbeing.

Improving your mental health through boxing

Ross Gaskell said, “When I was going through a rough patch, I found boxing helped clear my head.

“I wanted to create a space where lads could turn up, hit a few pads, have a chat, or just not feel alone.

“Seeing how many have stuck with it and opened up has meant everything.”

Better Minds Boxing isn’t all about throwing punches and boxing. It’s about turning up, being seen, and knowing you don’t have to carry your struggles alone. That message resonates strongly with Rob, one of the first to attend the group and someone who credits it with changing his life.

“What Ross and Lee have built here is more than a boxing group,  it’s a lifeline,” said Rob. “They’re not just coaches, they’re two lads who genuinely care. They’ve been through their own struggles, and instead of staying quiet, they created a space for the rest of us to open up too.”

“No egos, no pressure, no one pretending to have it all figured out, just real people showing up for each other.”

The power of that simplicity is what keeps men coming back. In a world where men are too often encouraged to stay silent about their mental health, Better Minds Boxing is cutting through the noise. It’s not therapy, but it is therapeutic, a few hours of movement, sweat, and honest conversation.

A gentle revolution in men’s mental health

According to mental health charity Mind, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK. Yet far too often, men still struggle to find safe, stigma-free environments to talk. Better Minds Boxing is helping to change that.

“We wanted to do something different,” explained Lee. “There are loads of mental health campaigns out there, but not everyone wants to sit in a circle and talk straight away. Sometimes, you just need to punch a bag, have a brew, and then you’re ready to open up.”

The idea is pretty straightforward, and effective. Build trust in the boxing ring , then create space for conversation. The boxing is the hook,  but the real work happens in the chats between rounds, the quiet moments on the bench, or the nod of recognition from someone who’s been where you are.

The group is strictly non-profit and open to all men aged 16 and over.

There’s no need to book and no expectations. There’s absolutely no judgment. Lee and Ross have even designed hoodies and t-shirts for regulars to help create a sense of identity, something many people lose when struggling with mental health.

“We’ve created a little community,” said Lee. “And people have really taken ownership of it. It’s theirs, not just ours.”

12 Gauge MMA in Bredbury

The sessions are currently held every other Sunday evening at 12 Gauge MMA in Bredbury, but there are hopes to expand the schedule as demand continues to grow.

You can find out more about 12 Gauge MMA by clicking here

What started as a grassroots initiative is quickly becoming a big part of Stockport’s mental health support network.

Ross and Lee don’t see themselves as saviours or experts. They’re two blokes who know how hard it is to talk,  and how vital it is when you finally do.

“We’re not here to fix anyone,” Ross said. “We’re just here to listen, to give people a space. That alone can mean everything.”

And maybe that’s what makes this so special. There are no speeches, no campaigns, no rules. Just a gym with some gloves, bags – and an invitation: Come as you are.

Better Minds Boxing is part of a growing movement urging men to break the silence around mental health. Not with slogans or speeches, but with space,  the kind of space that’s been too rare for too long.

“This isn’t just about grief or anxiety or depression,” Lee said. “It’s about giving men a place where they don’t have to carry everything alone. We’re trying to make it OK to not be OK, and to talk about it.”

So if you or someone you know could benefit from Better Minds Boxing, don’t wait for a crisis. Just turn up, have a go, say hello. You might throw a few punches, you might just have a cuppa. But you’ll leave lighter than you came in.

How to get involved with Better Minds Boxing

You can find Better Minds Boxing at 12 Gauge MMA, 4th Floor, Welkin Mill, Welkin Road, Bredbury, SK6 2BH, every other Sunday evening –  with dates announced regularly online
No need to book,  just come down, or message the team with any questions on Facebook. You can find out what Better Minds Boxing are up to and get involved via their Facebook group here