A young boxer from Warwickshire has turned a personal passion into something that is now changing lives far beyond the ring.
What started as a small home setup has quickly grown into a thriving community space where young people with special educational needs, adults with disabilities, and women looking to build confidence through fitness are all finding a place to belong.
At just 21 years old, Bobby Brannen has already gone from working as a builder to becoming a Midlands Elite boxing champion — and now the owner of his own gym in Dunchurch, as reported by BBC News.
For Brannen, the opening of his new fitness centre marks far more than just a business move. It represents the rapid rise of something deeply personal that began with helping his younger brother train.
The Rugby-born coach launched Fitness by Bobby around 18 months ago, initially running sessions from a home gym setup. But everything changed after a video showing him training his brother, who has special educational needs (SEN), spread across social media.
The clip struck a chord with families who were struggling to find inclusive fitness spaces for their children.
Soon, parents from across the country were reaching out.
Before long, Brannen was training more than 100 people and running classes from Brownsover Community Hall as demand continued to grow.
Now, he has taken the next major step by moving into his own dedicated gym facility in Dunchurch — something he admits still feels surreal.
He said: “It was my dream, but if you’d told me a few months down the line it’s gonna be real, I’d be like, ‘you’re having a laugh, really’!”
Brannen’s own journey into boxing came after finishing college. While studying to become a personal trainer, he discovered a love for the sport that quickly developed into a serious pursuit.
That dedication eventually led him to winning the Midlands Elite title, but despite his success inside the ring, his ambitions stretched beyond competition.
The opportunity to open his own gym came unexpectedly.
“A couple of months ago, I was on holiday and I’d seen this post where a facility was being advertised. We had a look and it just felt right,” he said.
That instinct appears to have paid off.
What separates Fitness by Bobby from many traditional gyms is the atmosphere Brannen has worked hard to create. The focus is not solely on physical fitness, but on inclusion, confidence, and giving people a safe environment where they feel accepted.
The response has been overwhelming.
“Even on Saturday, I had a family travel from Liverpool to my class,” he said. “It just made me feel like we’ve created this place where people can come to feel welcome, and it just shows how needed it is.”
The classes themselves have also evolved as the community around the gym has grown.
While boxing remains at the heart of what Brannen offers, he has expanded sessions to cater for different interests and comfort levels. Alongside boxing coaching, the gym now hosts dancing classes for young people with SEN, while also providing women-only boxing sessions designed to create a more welcoming environment for those who may feel intimidated by traditional gyms.
It is that adaptability and understanding that appears to be resonating with families.
For many parents of children with special educational needs, finding accessible activities can often be difficult. Fitness environments are not always designed with inclusion in mind, and opportunities tailored specifically for young people with disabilities can be limited.
Brannen’s approach has helped fill that gap.
Rather than focusing purely on performance, his sessions prioritise encouragement, routine, and enjoyment — something families have clearly connected with.
And through it all, Brannen remains especially proud of the role his younger brother has played in inspiring the entire project.
“Now I’ve got my own place to teach lots of kids and adults with disabilities, lots more classes,” he added.
The journey from builder to boxer to gym owner has happened quickly, but for Brannen, the biggest achievement is not the medals or the viral attention.
It is creating a place where people who may previously have felt overlooked can now walk through the doors and feel like they belong.
Featured image credit: Bobby Brannen / Instagram
