£1,000 of boxing kit and 50 footballs for Brinnington youth sport, paid from the High Sheriff's Trust by GMP's Operation Vulcan, seven months into its stay.

Two youth sport groups in Brinnington have new equipment, paid for through Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Vulcan team. The kit went to Stockport and Brinnington Amateur Boxing Club and to a community football scheme at Brinnington Leisure Centre.

The money came from the High Sheriff’s Trust, according to the force. GMP announced the two donations on 15 September and 23 September.

What the boxing club received

Officers handed over £1,000 of equipment to Stockport and Brinnington ABC in early September. GMP lists it as:

  • six competition-approved headguards
  • 18 Adidas hand-wraps
  • 30 mouthguards
  • 20 skipping ropes
  • nine groin guards

The club has been running in the area for more than 20 years, the force said.

Two Operation Vulcan officers and a coach unpack headguards, hand-wraps and other boxing equipment on the floor of a gym
Officers and a coach unpack the donated equipment. Photo: supplied by Greater Manchester Police.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Julien, from the Operation Vulcan team, said the equipment would “support and enhance the fantastic work” being done at the club. “Community organisations such as Stockport and Brinnington ABC are powerful local assets,” he said.

50 footballs, monthly trophies and a 7-2 defeat

In July officers visited Wellbeing Football and Sports at Brinnington Leisure Centre. The scheme is run by Mike Donnan and gives young people an outlet for sport, exercise and friendship. GMP says the sessions regularly draw dozens of children.

The Vulcan team gave the scheme 50 footballs and trophies to hand out to young players. Officers also played a match against Mr Donnan’s men’s wellbeing side.

Mr Donnan said many of the men in that group have faced addiction, homelessness or bereavement, and “a fair few have been on the wrong side of the law”. “We did win 7-2,” he added, “which was pleasing for the lads.”

“The 50 balls and monthly trophies that Vulcan donated have helped massively as we are always losing the balls, and the trophies make the kids feel part of something,” he said.

Why Operation Vulcan is in Brinnington

Operation Vulcan is GMP’s dedicated problem-solving team. It is best known for shutting down “Counterfeit Street” in Cheetham Hill. Brinnington is its fourth deployment, after Cheetham Hill, Piccadilly Gardens and Derker in Oldham. (GMP, 2 March 2026)

The team has been deployed in Brinnington since mid-February, the force said when it announced the operation. It works with the local neighbourhood team and Stockport Council on the police’s “Clear, Hold, Build” approach: enforcement first, then work to stop problems returning.

GMP’s own figures chart the enforcement side:

  • 13 arrests and a firearm, a bladed article and a taser seized in the first two weeks, according to the launch statement
  • more than 100 arrests by mid-September, six months in, according to the force’s statement on the boxing donation

The force has not published a breakdown of those arrests or how many led to charges.

The sport donations are the other half of the plan. “It’s incredibly important that we have them and to prevent them from being attracted to any potential criminality,” said Inspector Dan Cullum, from the Vulcan team.

What it means for you

  • Groups can ask for help. Inspector Cullum said Vulcan would keep supporting activities like these, and “would strongly encourage any groups who think they could use our input to please get in touch”. The route is the Brinnington neighbourhood team, through GMP’s contact page.
  • More money is coming to Brinnington. The area is also in line for £20 million over ten years from the government’s Pride in Place programme. Our guide to the Brinnington Pride in Place funding explains how the spending plan is being drawn up.
  • Reporting still matters. Operation Vulcan works from intelligence. Crime can be reported on 101, online through GMP, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, call 999.

Sources