A GYM and fitness centre that has used boxing to engage with 15,000 youngsters and adults is in line for a Pride of Swindon Award.

Scrappers Gym and Community Fitness Centre has made the judge's shortlist for the prestigious annual awards, which this year mark their tenth anniversary.

But the gym will have to wait until Thursday, March 22 to find out whether they have won an award at a special awards ceremony being staged at Steam museum.

The judging panel was impressed by the account it received of the services Scrappers received, and put them on their shortlist for an award.

The gym's nominator said: "Scrappers is a unique community project and there is nothing like it in Swindon which provides access for everyone using boxing as a platform to engage young people and adults in purposeful activities.

"Scrappers Gym enhances the individual growth and development of its service users using boxing to encourage them to try new activities. It promotes social inclusion and brings people together from different areas of Swindon, developing community cohesion, alleviating anti-social activity and reducing barriers to participation.

"Its projects has proven to develop peoples physical, social and mental well-being as well as raising their aspiration levels, increasing confidence and self-esteem. This enables them to perform better in life in general and helps people to make better life choices, develop team-working skills and wider social and personal skills.

"Since the project was set up 2011, it has benefitted over 15,000 young people and adults and continues to make a difference in many people's lives."

The gym's most recent achievement was the success of a Big Lottery grant to develop the project further providing agility and fitness sessions for people with disabilities twice a week for one year.

The nominator added: "In the past year, Scrappers Gym has supported more than 4,485 children and adults in Swindon. Many of their service users have physical disabilities, learning difficulties and mental health problems, the project helps to provide social and personal benefits and improves their health and well-being

"Scrappers has developed excellent relationships with local schools, and directly support young people at risk of exclusion. The boxing programme has significant benefits improving educational standards helping pupils to progress further in education than they would have without the boxing intervention."

The gym is up against eight other groups or organisations in the teams category of the awards. The results will be revealed on March 22.