Charity’s new drop-in will help people with support and advice
Lord Mayor of Hull Cllr Cheryl Payne conducts the official launch of One Punch Hull Hub (Image: onepunchhull.com)
The grand opening of a new One Punch Hull Hub has taken place. The event, in Princes Quay, was attended by over 200 people.
One Punch Hull was set up by the family of Scott Akester, who died from a single punch thrown by a friend in an unprovoked attack. The charity was launched in August, 2023, to raise awareness around the risks of one punch attacks and the devastation they cause for families and friends affected by such a crime.
Scott’s family and trustees of the charity raise awareness through educational talks across schools and colleges, delivering Scott’s Story through 30-minute presentations to support other young people in being aware of the risks of violence, and that one punch can ruin lives both for the victim and perpetrator.
They help young people understand the importance of managing their anger and being aware of their surroundings, to know their limits and to avoid putting themselves at harm. The new hub now offers a safe space for members of the community to visit to receive support and advice, and to find out more about the charity’s work.
Since the charity received the keys for the Princes Quay unit in October, the team have been busy setting things up and getting the hub ready for the opening. A soft launch was carried out in the run-up to Christmas, with the official opening happening on Saturday, January 11 by the Lord Mayor of Hull, Councillor Cheryl Payne.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about One Punch Hull & East Yorkshire
Scott’s mum Debra Akester said there had been “excellent feedback” from all who at the launch. She said: “The event was well attended, by over 200 people, all with a connection to the charity in some form.
“This included, family, friends, fundraisers, donators, supporters and a number of children’s football/rugby teams were represented at the event.” The family recently set up the Scott Akester Foundation, as part of their charity, to allow them to give something back to the community.
Debra said: “There is no better way than to support local grass roots sports teams within Hull and East Yorkshire. We are now able to sponsor local teams, which spreads awareness even further from a young age.”
One Punch Hull Hub is on Level 3, at Princes Quay. Call in to hear more about the charity’s work, and to check out the merchandise on offer to help raise awareness.
A coffee morning will be held every Tuesday, 11.30am to 1pm, and people can pop along. Other activities will be advertised through One Punch Hull’s social media pages.
One Punch Hull can offer one-to-one sessions with young people and their parents, with the Akester family’s lived experience helping change behaviours and supporting families. They have delivered Scott’s Story to over 11,000 young people in the past year, providing over 100 sessions in schools, colleges and training centres during 2025.