Sport for development charity Empire Fighting Chance welcomed 13 practitioners from across the UK to Bristol for an intensive two-day ‘Box Therapy’ training programme.

The event marked a significant step in the charity’s mission to expand the reach of its innovative Box Therapy initiative, which combines non-contact boxing with therapeutic support to empower young people facing mental health challenges.

The programme has been carefully developed to provide an effective approach to mental health support. Participants for the training were carefully selected based on their values, professional experience, and the young people they support. They represented a diverse range of organisations, attendees included practitioners from Shropshire County Council, 42nd Street, The Sid Youth, Punching with Purpose, SPARKS, and Be Inspired.

Training encompassed a comprehensive series of workshops, covering key topics such as the therapeutic foundations of the programme, boxing delivery techniques, data and impact evaluation, and the practicalities of delivering Box Therapy. Practitioners also collaborated on creating bespoke action plans tailored to their local contexts.

Elaine Miller, the Head of Box Therapy at Empire Fighting Chance, commented: “Sharing our unique Box Therapy programme and culture was a great experience. Inspiring other mental health professionals to use boxing to enhance their practice and create greater accessibility to therapy feels amazing. I am very excited to grow the number of Box Therapists around the country and support more young people.”

Read the full story at empirefightingchance.org

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