Box & Bars.

Teesside continues to face high levels of youth deprivation and a shortage of safe, youth-led spaces. In the summer holidays, that gap widens. Long unstructured days and reduced school support leave many young people vulnerable to boredom, emotional dysregulation, and anti-social behaviour.

Families tell us the same things. Few free, high-quality activities for teens. Youth spaces that don’t feel relatable. Programmes that are not trauma-informed, or not built for kids dealing with complex home lives. Not enough that meets young people at their level.

Box & Bars was built to fill that gap. Something genuinely engaging, accessible, and culturally relevant for young people in Teesside.

The programme ran across the summer of 2025 in 1.5-hour sessions, hosted at the boxing gym at Close Protection Security Ltd, in partnership with their team and proudly sponsored by Tru-Tec NDT. Their backing kept the programme completely free for the community.

Originally we designed Box & Bars to blend boxing, creative writing, and emotional expression. Early on, it became clear the boys were far more engaged with the physical work. So we followed the trauma-informed playbook. We followed their strengths and motivations. Boxing became the main focus. Creative reflection moved into the conversations and the in-between moments, where it landed harder anyway.

• ●Non-contact boxing coaching and pad work with certified coach Paul Walton
• ●Physical regulation and discipline exercises
• ●Space to talk, decompress, and build rapport
• ●Optional creative expression for those who wanted it
• ●Celebrity meet and greets, including Sky Sports heavyweight Steven “Drago” Robinson
• ●Motivational talks from self-made business owners from disadvantaged backgrounds
• ●Free boxing gloves for every participant, so cost was never the reason they stopped

Consistency does a lot of the work. By offering exciting sessions across the holidays, Box & Bars cut down idle time, gave young people a reason to leave the house, and offered a clear alternative to boredom-led risk-taking.

Parents and carers reported real shifts at home. More regulation. Calmer evenings. Boys turning up for things they used to avoid.

The participants themselves built more self-belief, better physical coordination, a stronger sense of identity, and steadier emotional control. Peer relationships sharpened up too. The pivot from creative writing to boxing reinforced a simple principle. Young people thrive when they feel listened to. Give them ownership and engagement follows.

Meeting Steven Robinson and hearing from self-made entrepreneurs was the part many of them held onto. The lesson sat under everything they did the next week. You can do it too.

Every participant left with their own boxing gloves. That meant the work didn’t end with us. They could keep training at home, walk into a club, or just keep moving.

When young people are given respect, consistency, something they actually enjoy, positive role models, and barrier-free access, they show up. They engage. They grow.

Box & Bars didn’t just fill time. It filled a gap. The need for free, empowering, culturally relevant youth activity that meets young people in Teesside exactly where they are.