Ding ding, round 1! Nursing and boxing projects set to be knockouts

A University team of academics are set to give better mental health support for their students and members of the community after getting ‘in the ring’ with a local boxing charity.

Recently, the first group of people to go through the Frank Bruno Foundation’s (FBF) health and wellbeing programme came to Waterside as part of their FBF learning.

The Foundation was launched this Spring and provides a 12-week programme of exercise, advice and coaching for those who are struggling with their mental health and/or might be at risk of gang and crime influence. It’s primarily aimed at children and young people, although there is no upper age limit providing people meet FBF programme requirements.

Lecturers from Children’s and Young People’s Nursing gave workshops and discussion forums to support FBF’s work by helping the attendees understand skills of basic life support and first aid.

The academics spoke about their professions and gave top tips about dealing with common physical injuries such as fractures and burns to help the participants gain awareness of the initial management of accidents and injuries.

They also spent part of the day demonstrating essential skills that could help save a life, such as what to do if someone is choking and giving CPR (resuscitation). Mannequins used by UON students were brought in to add extra reality and for the group to ‘have a go’ themselves.

This UON event is the first of several planned collaborations between the University’s Children and Young People’s and Mental Health Nursing team and the Foundation.

Future FBF programme people will also be welcomed to Waterside for similar workshops and other projects being explored including:

• Nursing students across all four fields at UON to undertake projects to raise funds for the charity.
• Nursing students to refer themselves as part-time recipients of FBF services and being able to use the facilities there.
• Frank Bruno to attend as a motivational guest speaker and take part in Q&A sessions with UON students.
• The Foundation and UON to launch and support an ‘inclusivity café’ for BAME students.
• Former WBC heavyweight champion Frank Bruno, MBE has spoken about the important role exercise has played in his life, with his training as a professional boxer and more recently with his own mental health.

Bally Sandhu, Senior Lecturer in Children’s Nursing – and pictured below with Frank himself – is leading the team behind developing the working arrangement with FBF. She said: “We have been in talks for the past three months with the Frank Bruno Foundation to understand how we can support those persons undertaking the first 12 programme in order to develop skills in steering themselves away from a previously difficult period in their lives.

“We have just kicked off with what I hope will be the start of a relationship with the Foundation which perfectly illustrates what we do at the University. That is using our expertise and knowledge to help people to help themselves and supporting community projects and charities.

“This collaboration with the Foundation is exciting because as there will be ample opportunities to give UON Nursing students an ever better learning experience. Nursing is such a rewarding profession but not without its pressures and at Northampton we are committed to ensuring our students have the best support we can give them.

“This includes making sure their mental health is ‘tip-top’ so having the Frank Bruno Foundation ‘in the ring’ as we support their programme should make for many winning bouts.”

Danielle Coniff from the Frank Bruno Foundation added: “Our clients’ recent visit to Waterside was a great opportunity for them and gave a real sense of achievement when they received their certificates. This is just the first example of the Frank Bruno Foundation and UON making a difference and we are already looking forward to working together on future projects.”

Find out more about Nursing at the University.

Find out more about the Foundation and their work.