TEAM Pumpkin Boxing have been punching above their weight ever since forming just over 11 months ago.

The Brierley Hill club already attracts over 100 boxers to its Old Bush Street base every week and the numbers continue to grow.

Rapidly becoming established as a community hub, Team Pumpkin Boxing is the brainchild of Carl Collins and his 19-year-old son Ben.

Having outgrown previous premises, Team Pumpkin set up home in Old Bush Street last March and hit the ground running by developing a partnership with West Midlands Police.

Unlike other boxing clubs, Team Pumpkin operate throughout the day and deal with youngsters from troubled backgrounds and vulnerable groups.

They also go into local schools and work with youngsters who are involved with Behavioral Units.

Carl and his son also provide youngsters with a Healthy Eating programme and pay out their own pocket by donating fresh fruit every week.

Carl explained: "We discovered that a great deal of kids who attended the club had a really poor diet, some of them didn't even eat fruit.

"Now we have around 70 kids going home with pieces of fruit every Friday and Saturday".

However, the club isn't a one way street. They in turn try and donate to the nearby Black Country Foodbank.

Carl added: "We're also grateful to local businesses. Four of them have clubbed together and provided us with a brand-new boxing ring as well as funding some of the youngsters who attend.

"Whatever the circumstances, we never like to turn anyone away - because without the kids, there isn't a club!

Team Pumpkin has been nominated in the Sports Team or Club of the year category for the Dudley Borough Community Awards, where the winners will be revealed at an exclusive black tie event on Thursday, November 23 at the Copthorne Hotel in Dudley.

The closing date for nominations is noon on September 24.

If any businesses would like to help sponsor the awards they can email debra.orr@localiq.co.uk