Horsley Hill Amateur Boxing Club (ABC) has been going since 1974, and meets three times a week.

Coach Steve Winter is the only paid member of staff, working alongside volunteer coaches Mick Cape and Bill Humphrey.

"They train the lads to a very high standard," he said.

Mr Winter has nominated the club, based at Horsley Hill Community Centre in South Shields, for Community Group of the Year in the Pride of South Tyneside Awards.

"Two of our lads have just turned professional, Billy Bell and Chris Mullen," he said.

"We have a zero tolerance to drink and drugs and promote healthy living, which includes exercise, diet and respect for ourselves and others.

"We help them channel their negative energy into a positive.

"We live in a deprived area of the borough, and a percentage of the young people who attend have been in trouble in one way or another.

"We work closely with our partners – the probation service, youth inclusion programme, youth offending team and youth service – in the education of our young people so they can be good citizens.

"The group is respected by all who use it. This is down to the hard work of the coaches and the young people themselves. This is their club and they have ownership of it."

* The Pride of South Tyneside Awards, now in their sixth year, are organised by the Gazette, South Tyneside Council and the Customs House. Ten awards are up for grabs – Carer of the Year, Community Group of the Year, Greener South Tyneside, Sporting Excellence, Top Achiever, Child of Courage, Good Friend/Neighbour, Role Model of the Year, Young Performer(s) of the Year and a Judges' Special Award.

The closing date has now passed for nominations. Sixteen Young Performer(s) nominees will get to strut their stuff on stage in a talent show at the Customs House on Wednesday, April 23.

The awards ceremony will take place at the arts venue on Thursday, July 10.