AEF BoxSmart Course – Coming in September 2026
Available to Book Now - https://clcs.as.me/AEFBoxSmartHarlow
BOXSMART is a free non-contact boxing, mentoring and personal development programme for young people. The course helps build confidence, resilience, fitness, teamwork and positive decision-making in a safe and supportive environment.
Participants will take part in boxing-based fitness sessions, group activities and personal development workshops, with the opportunity to work towards an ASDAN-accredited qualification to recognise their progress and achievements.
Funded by AEF and Essex County Council.
Start Date: 23/09/2026
End Date: 26/06/2027
Time: 4:30pm to 5:30pm (subject to change, check website booking)
Age ranges for your SMART course
- 10 to 13
- 14-16
- 17-24 (alternative times)
The objects of the Changing Lives are to carry on activities which benefit the community and in particular to provide support, inspiration and promote self-confidence, self-worth and provide opportunities to people of all ages within the town of Harlow and wider community of Essex in the areas of sport, physical activities and mentorship and to provide the encouragement to enable them to lead a healthier and productive life and secure a positive future.
Need for the SMART Course in the Local Area
There is a clear need for the SMART course in the local area to support young people’s emotional well-being, confidence, resilience and positive mental health. National evidence shows that young people are experiencing increasing pressures. According to NHS Digital, around 1 in 5 children and young people aged 8 to 25 in England had a probable mental disorder in 2023, including 20.3% of 8 to 16-year-olds and 23.3% of 17 to 19-year-olds. [digital.nhs.uk]
Poor mental health can also affect education and attendance. YoungMinds reports that almost 30% of 11 to 16-year-olds with a probable mental health condition missed a week or more of school in 2023, compared with 10% of their peers without a mental health condition. This highlights the importance of early intervention programmes that help young people build coping strategies, confidence and motivation. [youngminds.org.uk]
The SMART course will provide a safe, structured and supportive environment where young people can develop social skills, communication, self-discipline and emotional resilience. This is particularly important for young people who may be struggling with low self-esteem, anxiety, isolation, poor peer relationships or reduced engagement in education.
There is also a need to help young people stay safe in the community. National youth justice data from GOV.UK shows that in the year ending March 2024, there were around 35,600 proven offences committed by children in England and Wales, a 4% increase on the previous year. The same data also shows that custodial sentences for children increased by 21%, underlining the ongoing need for preventative and diversionary activities. [gov.uk]
Locally, Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit highlights Youth Endowment Fund findings showing that young people who struggle in education are at greater risk of being affected by violence, with 74% of excluded pupils and 40% of pupils in referral units reporting that they had perpetrated violence, compared with 16% across the general teenage population. The same findings show that 1 in 5 teenagers do not have a trusted adult outside their family, demonstrating the importance of mentoring, positive role models and safe community-based provision. [essexvvu.co.uk]
By combining sport, mentoring and personal development, the SMART course can support young people to improve emotional well-being, develop resilience, make positive choices, reduce vulnerability to youth crime and exploitation, and increase confidence in school, at home and in the wider community.
Delivery Plan
The BOXSMART course will be delivered as a structured programme combining mentoring, personal development, sport and accredited learning. Sessions will be designed to support young people to build confidence, improve emotional well-being, develop resilience and make positive choices.
Participants will also work towards an ASDAN-accredited outcome linked to personal development, volunteering, sport, leadership or community engagement. This will give young people a recognised achievement and help evidence their progress in confidence, skills, participation and learning.
Delivery will include weekly group sessions covering topics such as self-confidence, communication, teamwork, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, decision-making, staying safe in the community, peer pressure, youth crime, exploitation, aspirations and goal setting. Sessions will be interactive and age-appropriate, using discussion, reflective activities, group tasks and practical challenges.
Physical activity will be a key part of the programme, using Boxing as a tool to engage young people and develop discipline, teamwork and resilience. Activities will include boxing training topics such as basics punches, Stance and guard, Footwork drills, shadow boxing, pad work, bag work, reaction drills, defensive movement, partner mirror drills, fitness challenges, cool downs and stretching. These activities will help young people improve fitness, focus, self-control and positive social interaction.
We will work with local partners, including schools, youth services, community organisations, sports providers, safeguarding partners and referral agencies, to identify young people who would benefit from the programme and provide additional support where needed. Partner engagement will also help ensure young people are signposted to relevant services and opportunities.
The course will be delivered in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment by trained staff and mentors, with progress monitored through attendance, participation, feedback, personal goals and end-of-course reflection.
Additional opportunities include: Free Gym Membership!
- Apprenticeship opportunities
- First Aid Awards
- Practical Skills Sessions
- Work Experience opportunities
- Non sport related Awards and Qualifications
- Mental Health Awareness
- AQA qualifications
Statutory Agencies/Partner Connections
Changing Lives Community Services has established links with local schools, youth services, community organisations, sports providers, safeguarding partners and referral agencies across Harlow and Essex. These partners support the BOXSMART project by helping to identify and refer young people who would benefit from early intervention, mentoring, positive activities and additional support.
We will continue to work closely with schools and education providers to support young people at risk of poor attendance, low confidence, exclusion or reduced attainment. We will also engage with youth services, community safety partners, local policing teams, safeguarding teams and mental health support services to strengthen pathways for young people affected by emotional wellbeing concerns, youth crime, exploitation, anti-social behaviour or negative peer pressure.
Partner involvement will support safe referrals, information sharing where appropriate, safeguarding responses, signposting and joined-up support for participants and families. We also intend to build further links with statutory agencies working in youth mental health and youth crime, including local authority early help services, children’s services, youth offending services and violence reduction partners, to ensure the course complements local prevention and diversionary work.
These partnerships will help BOXSMART reach vulnerable young people, provide trusted referral routes, improve safeguarding practice and connect participants to wider services and opportunities beyond the course.
Statutory Agencies/Partner Connections
Changing Lives Community Services has established links with local schools, youth services, community organisations, sports providers, safeguarding partners and referral agencies across Harlow and Essex. These partners support the BOXSMART project by helping to identify and refer young people who would benefit from early intervention, mentoring, positive activities and additional support.
We will continue to work closely with schools and education providers to support young people at risk of poor attendance, low confidence, exclusion or reduced attainment. We will also engage with youth services, community safety partners, local policing teams, safeguarding teams and mental health support services to strengthen pathways for young people affected by emotional wellbeing concerns, youth crime, exploitation, anti-social behaviour or negative peer pressure.
Partner involvement will support safe referrals, information sharing where appropriate, safeguarding responses, signposting and joined-up support for participants and families. We also intend to build further links with statutory agencies working in youth mental health and youth crime, including local authority early help services, children’s services, youth offending services and violence reduction partners, to ensure the course complements local prevention and diversionary work.
These partnerships will help BOXSMART reach vulnerable young people, provide trusted referral routes, improve safeguarding practice and connect participants to wider services and opportunities beyond the course.
For more information and to view previously completed evaluations of our AEF BoxSmart programmes, please use the links provided below.
