Boxing, Belonging and Belief: how powerful partnerships are helping young people flourish

At AllChild, we’re lucky to work with a growing number of fantastic partners who deliver engaging, hands-on activities that help children and young people learn, grow and flourish. From arts and crafts to sports and even circus-based sessions, these programmes provide safe, supportive spaces where young people can try new things, take risks, build confidence - and enjoy being themselves.

One activity that’s proving particularly popular is boxing. And while it might be known for its physical intensity, we’ve seen firsthand that boxing offers so much more.

Boxing helps young people build patience, resilience, discipline and self-awareness. It supports emotional regulation, improves communication, and gives young people a visible way to track their own progress - something that can be incredibly motivating.

We’re currently working with three brilliant partners who each bring boxing to life in their own unique and meaningful way. Their approaches vary, but their impact is clear: young people are engaging, opening up, and gaining the confidence to aim higher.

Here’s a look at the partners we’re proud to be supporting and learning from:

In Your Corner

In Your Corner combines boxing with evidence-based psychology to help young people set and work towards wellbeing goals. Traditionally a community-based programme, we’ve supported them to begin working in schools - opening up access to even more young people. Together, we’re piloting a new mentoring model where older students support primary-aged children through boxing-based sessions. It’s early days, but the results are promising.

Boxing for Better (Wigan)

Based in Leigh, Boxing for Better is a hyper-local organisation that joined us this term. Their lead facilitator is a former student from one of our partner schools, bringing lived experience and deep local insight. That connection helps build trust quickly, creating space for powerful conversations about confidence, identity, and life beyond boxing. Their sessions are already making a strong impact with secondary students.

Reclaimed

Known for their creative woodwork programmes, Reclaimed has expanded their offer with support from AllChild - growing from one facilitator to three, and now including boxing. One of their new facilitators is a trained coach and mentor, and it’s been inspiring to see the sessions in action. In one session, a student known for high behavioural points in school was completely focused, eager to learn, and actively encouraging his peers - a powerful reminder of what the right environment can unlock.

Listening, Learning, Growing - Together

"The growth of our boxing offer reflects what makes the AllChild model unique: we listen closely to our teams, respond to what young people need, and work in deep partnership to build the right opportunities.

Thanks to the insight of our Link Work team and the coordination of our Communities Team, we’ve been able to shape a dynamic, engaging strand of work that’s already making a tangible difference to confidence, communication, and wellbeing.

As we head into the final stretch of the year, we’re proud to be creating environments where young people feel seen, supported - and excited about what’s possible. These partnerships are about more than boxing. They’re about belonging, belief, and building lasting change, together."

– James Dunbar (Head of Delivery Partner Success, Communities)

Photo credit: In Your Corner

Written by Aspen Weatherburn

‍