Donation from Ancon proves a big hit with crime-reduction charity Nacro

Sheffield-based construction product manufacturer, Ancon, has put the city’s famous stainless steel to an innovative new use at a charity-run gym.

The company has donated specially designed punchbag support brackets for the Health and Fitness Centre run by crime-reduction charity Nacro. The community gym was set up following a successful bid to the Big Lottery Fund. It aims to help people develop their self-esteem, improve their fitness levels, raise their awareness of health issues and access other services offered by the charity.

James Cole, Sport Coordinator at Nacro Sheffield, says:

The idea for the gym came from talking to people we work with, who expressed a desire to improve their fitness and adopt healthier lifestyles. This was an unusual venture for Nacro, but has proved extremely popular and effective. Attending a privately-run or even a local authority gym is just not an option for everyone. It’s simply unaffordable and often too daunting for many of our clients.

Much of the equipment was purchased using the Lottery grant, but there were some essential extras we needed. One of my colleagues knew about Ancon and approached them for help. The company were fantastic. They came in to find out what we needed and then designed and manufactured a steel bracket specifically for our punchbags. We’re extremely grateful for their donation and for their genuine commitment to helping us out. Such support is invaluable to a charity, and they have expressed interest in continuing to work with us in the future.

Ancon’s high-performance construction products are world-renowned and are generally designed for use within the structure or façade of a building, rather than as internal fittings.

Annabelle Wilson, Marketing Manager at Ancon says:

A request for punchbag brackets is not a normal enquiry for us, but we were more than happy to help Nacro. We’re delighted our expertise was able to support such an important charity and to help kickstart their new venture here in Sheffield. We’re pleased we could play even just a small part in helping Nacro reach out to people in our community.

I’ve visited the Sheffield centre and seen first hand the fantastic work they do. The gym had a really good atmosphere and seems an excellent addition to the services offered there. It’s a place where people can stay active, set and meet personal challenges, cooperate with others and engage with the Nacro support team.

The Nacro Health and Fitness Centre on Earl Street in Sheffield is equipped with a full range of exercise equipment including free weights and running machines. It is open to anyone between the ages of 16 and 65 and is free of charge.