Rising homelessness might have the country in a chokehold, but in Sheffield they are taking the unusual step of battling back with mixed martial arts
Words: Liam Geraghty
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION
There are many ways to fight homelessness but, in one small gym in Sheffield, mixed martial arts are the unique weapon of choice.
MMA might conjure up images of UFC and cage matches but a small project led by Sheffield Hallam University researcher Mark Hollett is using the sport to battle drug and alcohol addiction, help people kick on in employment and education and prevent homelessness.
The one-hour-a-week class at Sheffield Shootfighters Mixed Martial Arts Club works with national services including Shelter and the NHS, as well as local groups Mind Body Connect (MBC), Nomad, Depaul and Project 6 to help people use martial arts to change their lives. For some, the one-of-a-kind project has been a lifeline. Chris Royston got involved in the MMA classes at the back end of the pandemic after being referred by Shelter. The 45-year-old from Barnsley was homeless back in 2015 and spent six months rough sleeping and sofa surfing while working in a supermarket before Shelter helped him off the streets.
“There was a death in the family where I didn’t have access to the property so from that moment I was sofa surfing. I used to cycle six miles to work, do a 10-hour shift and cycle back to Sheffield city centre,” says Royston.
“Every night you would hear a noise or see someone walking around so you would only get short breaks or little naps. You were always aware, always alert, of what was around you. It was a low place to be.”
Having the support network of the MMA class has given him the foundation to get on in life.
He now lives in a bungalow and fundraises to help the charities that supported him. He credits the impact of the MMA class in keeping him out of homelessness.
“MMA was something totally new to me, something that I’d seen on Sky Sports but something I knew very little about,” he adds. “I enjoyed the community and the camaraderie, the teamwork and everyone just getting on. You just felt like part of the family.
“I’ve spun everything around. I’m not working now but I’m giving a lot back because I know when you help a homeless person they can excel. They can go past me and beyond me and do something else and help other people. That’s where the government and society are missing out.”
Hollett, who runs the classes with coach
