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Health

Box-clever at Alpha Boxing Club

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7 MONTHS ago, Scott Keane could barely leave his bed.

The pandemic was in full-swing and Scott, like many around the world, was suffering with his mental health.

Scott, a former boxing and kickboxing champion, felt removed and withdrawn, but rather than wallow, Scott found the resolve to do something about his frame of mind.

Within ten weeks, Scott went from being unable to help himself to being driven and determined to help others who might be suffering as he had.

Fast-forward 7 months and Scott has now set up Alpha Boxing Club on Thornton Industrial Estate in Milford Haven after moving back to Pembrokeshire.

We caught up with Scott at his gym to have a chat about his journey.

“I had a breakdown in December” Said Scott openly “I just could not get out of bed, it was bad”

“I’ve never been a wallower, I’m a fighter through-and-through” Said Scott as gestured around the gym “But I was literally staring over a cliff and I knew something had to change.”

“I knew then and there that I needed help, too many people try to shoulder things on their own. I knew I needed help, so I got it.”

Scott’s ability to talk about his own mental health is a real breath of fresh air and he talks about his issues like they’re just another step in his journey.

“Within 10 weeks I’d taken back control of my own brain, I was lucky, I got therapy and it made me realise a lot of the problems that were weighing me down were entirely in my mind.”

Scott puts his speedy recovery down to working with Kristel Hogg from Focus On You Therapy. 

Kristel specialises in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy which is a modern, highly effective combination of positive psychotherapy and relaxation which brings a very natural state of hypnotic trance. 

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy uses practical, modern, and well-researched strategies to help people make significant, positive and meaningful changes in their lives over a relatively short period of time enabling the client to live a positive fulfilled life of enjoyment without the burdens that once may have been holding them back or restricting them from moving forward in a positive and happy way.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy blends elements of Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) with Hypnosis. Combined in this way, the therapy can help to bring about long- lasting change, relatively quickly.

Combining relaxation and visualisation, Kristel helps people focus on the positive aspects of their lives. This encourages that all important shift in perspective and thought enabling a new or even a broader outlook, a more positive perspective with true solutions and absolute focus and intent.

“Once I got myself into a better place, thanks to Kristel and my close family, I had to figure out a way to stay there.” Said Scott.

“I needed structure, I needed something to focus on and my cousins kept pushing me to reopen a gym and then it hit me….”

Alpha Boxing Club is that structure and focus, Scott poured his time and energy into providing Milford Haven with something that it simply didn’t have, a boxing club.

Eye of the Tiger: inside Alpha Boxing Club

“There’s nothing in Milford like it” Said Scott “The response has been great and I think we’re building something really special here.”

“So many people suffered with a lack of fitness and a lack of routine during this pandemic, Alpha Boxing Club can help with both of those.”

“Our club is there for everybody, we’ve just opened and it’s already got a great atmosphere, everyone knows we’re all here to help each other physically and mentally.”

Alpha Boxing Club certainly looks the part, we were impressed by what Scott’s managed to achieve so far and his fearless attitude means the sky is most definitely the limit.

The club welcomes both Adults and Juniors with Adult classes taking place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 6:30pm – 7:30pm and classes for 8-12 year-olds taking place on Mondays and Thursdays between 5:30pm and 6:15pm.

“We are here for everybody” Scott said “But we do need help to keep growing and moving forward, we’d love local sponsors to come forward and help us help others.”

“And it really does help, physical and mental health go hand-in-hand and  it helps just knowing you’re not alone when times get tough, you just have to persevere and push through.”

“I am hoping to work with Kristel more to help people suffering with their mental health.”

Scott’s passion and thirst are obvious from just speaking to him, his energy is infectious and his boxing talent and knowledge are both clear to see.

As our time together drew to a close, I congratulated Scott on his amazing journey so far and for overcoming his own mental health battle.

It was then that Scott turned to me and said “If I can, anyone can, they just need the support to help them fight.”

And we’ve got a feeling that, at Alpha Boxing Club, they’ll find just that.

You can follow Alpha Boxing Club on Facebook and their telephone number is 07537 874500.

Health

Phone calls to reduce GP visits for 42% of patients this winter

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NEW research from the Royal Voluntary Service has shown that a simple phone call could significantly impact well-being, reducing GP visits by 42% among patients who receive regular telephone support.

The charity urges those feeling isolated this winter, particularly the elderly, to use telephone support services as a way to improve health and free up GP appointments, potentially reducing waiting times. It is estimated that if people experiencing loneliness in later life reduced their GP visits by just one appointment a year, this could free up 588,000 appointments annually.

As winter approaches, the Royal Voluntary Service reports that isolation can sharply increase, especially for adults over 75, with nearly half (47%) of people in this age group feeling lonelier in the colder months. Among those who live alone, one in six say they feel forgotten during winter, and 20% report having no one to turn to for emotional support.

In addition to loneliness, older generations face several winter worries, including increased heating costs, cited by 55% of respondents, and reduced ability to go out, which 29% said they dreaded as winter sets in.

To address these challenges, Royal Voluntary Service has launched the Stay Safe, Warm and Well campaign in partnership with Yakult. The campaign provides a guide for practical and emotional winter preparation, encouraging sign-ups for telephone support services and offering access to the Virtual Village Hall online community for events and activities. Practical advice on money-saving and energy-saving tips is also available through the guide.

Royal Voluntary Service Ambassador Elaine Paige, who has herself made support calls for the charity, described the positive impact these calls can have. “A warm, friendly phone call can transform someone’s day. Some conversations leave you smiling long after the call ends—something we could all use, especially in winter. For those facing the season alone, there are amazing people ready to remind you that you’re not alone,” she said.

The charity’s support services match volunteers with individuals across the UK for friendly chats, reducing isolation and boosting mental health. Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “The feedback that conversations with volunteers are helping people to visit their GP less is testament to the value of connection.”

Yakult Marketing Manager Reshma Patel added: “Our research with Royal Voluntary Service shows that one in four adults over 75 feel they’d benefit from practical and emotional support over winter. We are committed to helping people access the Stay Safe, Warm and Well guide to support their overall well-being.”

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Health

Over 1500 patients in Wales blocked from leaving hospital

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THE First Minister Eluned Morgan has been pressured on her government’s failure to clear hospital beds in Wales, leading to delays for people seeking urgent medical care.

According to a report from BBC Wales, there are currently 1,600 patients across Wales waiting to be discharged from hospital compared to England where there are currently 12,000.

However, when comparing population sizes, it’s revealed that Wales is performing worse than its closest neighbour, with 0.05% of the population of Wales stuck in hospital beds compared to 0.02% in England.

The Welsh Labour government have been criticised for their failure to clear out backlogs in the system,

The Liberal Democrats have now called on the Welsh Government to provide urgent social care funding to local authorities to help alleviate pressures on the NHS in Wales.

Speaking in the Siambr on Tuesday, The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS described how over twenty years of Welsh Labour government in Wales had let to a “desperate situation in our NHS, with services nearing breaking point.

Welsh Labours refusal to change their approach and fix a system clogged up by mismanagement is directly responsible for the current situation faced by thousands of patients.

Delays in discharging patients from hospitals are placing huge pressures on both staff and those awaiting care, but there is a way out of this mess and the answer lies in social care.

I have been told by numerous professionals working in healthcare that the first step towards fixing our NHS is made by providing local authorities with the funding to fix social care services within their respected areas.

By dedicating adequate investment into our social care services, we can make life easier for patients discharged from hospital while also lifting the strain on health services throughout Wales.”

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Education

Concern over ‘highest-ever’ school bullying rates

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RATES of bullying in Welsh schools have reached record levels, with more than one in three children and young people reporting being bullied, the Senedd heard.

Gareth Davies raised concerns about a 6% increase in bullying between 2021 and 2023, according to a survey of more than 130,000 pupils in 200 secondary schools.

The Conservatives’ shadow mental health minister told the Senedd: “These results are higher than ever previously reported in the survey, which is deeply troubling.”

He said the latest survey showed regression on “just about every metric of pupil wellbeing”, including growing social isolation and a rise in behavioural issues.

Mr Davies, who worked in the NHS in north Wales for more than a decade, pointed to a 2021 legal duty to have regard to the mental health of children and young people.

He said: “The mental health of pupils has declined and reports of bullying in schools have only increased, so the Welsh Government have failed in that duty, unfortunately.”

Plaid Cymru’s Cefin Campbell called for an update to 2019 anti-bullying guidance for school governing bodies following a commitment from the Welsh Government eight months ago.

The shadow education secretary focused on the impact of poverty, warning the high cost of school uniforms can cause stress and lead to bullying.

Mr Campbell, a former lecturer, expressed concerns about penalties, such as detention, for pupils over non-compliance with uniform policies.

Raising a report on “horrific” experiences of racism in Welsh schools, he said one pupil was told a classmate did not want to sit next to them due to the colour of their skin.

“That’s entirely unacceptable in our schools,” said Mr Campbell.

Labour’s Carolyn Thomas warned children’s mental health is at an all-time low, pointing to smartphones and social media as major contributing factors.

She said: “They can be used to bully, manipulate and control, sending young people into an isolated world of despair, not thinking they can get out of it or go to somebody for help.”

The North Wales politician highlighted a petition calling for a ban on phones in schools.

Rhys ab Owen, an independent who represents South Wales Central, stressed that bullying can impact people for decades to come after school.

“But it’s an issue that doesn’t affect learners equally,” he said. “In Cardiff, around a third of learners come from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

“And I was staggered to read a survey from 2020, which said that 61.5% of learners had expressed stereotypes over skin colour, religion and nationality.”

In a statement on November 12 to mark anti-bullying week, Lynne Neagle accepted that bullying continues to be an issue in Welsh schools.

Pledging to prioritise the problem, Wales’ education secretary said new statutory anti-bullying guidance will be published for consultation after Christmas.

Ms Neagle pointed to concerning trends, including 42% of girls scoring high or very high in a questionnaire on psychological problems compared with 27% of boys.

She told the Senedd: “I wouldn’t want to be a teenager growing up today.”

Ms Neagle stated the Welsh Government provided more than £800,000 this year for one of the biggest surveys of children and young people in the UK.

She said: “The link between bullying and mental health is well known. At its most extreme, young people have taken their own lives as a result of being bullied. This is a tragedy for the young life lost, for their family and friends and for whole communities.”

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