Flagship Programme

The Champions Pathway

Sport-based supported accommodation for vulnerable young adults aged 18–25. Two streams: Men’s Structured Boxing Pathway House and Women’s Rise Programme. Nationwide referrals accepted.

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The Champions Pathway

Transforming potential into talent. A structured sport, fitness, and personal development programme combining exempt supported accommodation with genuine career pathways in boxing, fitness, and coaching. This isn't recreational fitness — it's a genuine pipeline from supported housing into real career pathways. We accept referrals from across England, subject to suitability, local connection and Housing Benefit arrangements.

Stream 1

Men's Structured Boxing Pathway House

A structured boxing pathway for young men with challenging behaviour, leveraging direct connections to qualified coaches, event organisers, and the boxing industry.

  • Structured boxing training (2–4 sessions/week)
  • England Boxing registration & amateur competition pathway
  • Access to events via industry network
  • Coaching qualifications (Level 1 & 2)
  • Fitness industry qualifications
  • Male-only house model (5–6 beds)

All training delivered under safeguarding protocols, risk assessment, and positive behaviour support principles.


Refer to Men's Stream
Stream 2

Women's Rise Programme

Three parallel routes for young women with emotional dysregulation, trauma responses, and tenancy sustainment risk — including DA survivors, care leavers, and women at risk of exploitation. Designed as a VAWG-informed pathway.

  • Route 1: Combat Sports & Confidence — boxing, kickboxing, self-defence
  • Route 2: Fitness Industry — Level 2 Gym Instructor, PT pathway
  • Route 3: Coaching & Leadership — peer mentoring, assistant coach, DA support worker pathway
  • Trauma-informed delivery by female or mixed-gender teams
  • Participation is choice-led throughout
  • Women-only house with enhanced safeguarding & location confidentiality
Refer to Women's Stream

Real Connections. Real Opportunities.

What sets The Champions Pathway apart is our direct connection to the boxing and sport industry. Participants get access to opportunities most programmes simply cannot offer.

Boxing Programme Partner

Boxing Programme Partner

With extensive experience in boxing event organisation and deep connections across the boxing world — from grassroots training to professional events — Our Boxing Programme Partner provides participants with genuine career pathways that most programmes simply cannot offer. Both streams benefit from this professional network, including access to female coaches for the Women's Rise Programme.

Professional Coaches Boxing Promoters Event Organisation Athlete Welfare & Career Advice Women's Boxing Network Mentoring Network

Operational Safeguards

All training partners operate under Unity's safeguarding policies and procedures

All coaches are DBS checked (Enhanced with Barred List)

Unity retains full operational control and supervision of all programme activities

No private arrangements between training partners and residents are permitted

Formal partnership agreement with clear roles, boundaries, and reporting lines

Three Routes to Transformation

Each participant follows the route — or combination of routes — that best matches her strengths, interests, and recovery journey. All training delivered by female or mixed-gender teams. Participation is always choice-led.

Route 1

Combat Sports & Confidence

Building personal safety, confidence, and physical empowerment through controlled combat disciplines.

✦ Boxing, kickboxing & MMA ✦ Self-defence skills ✦ Boundaries & discipline ✦ Instructor qualification pathway

Route 2

Fitness Industry

A direct pathway into the fitness industry with recognised, immediately employable qualifications.

✦ Level 2 Gym Instructor ✦ Personal training pathway ✦ Nutrition & wellbeing basics ✦ Work placements with local gyms

Route 3

Coaching & Leadership

Developing leadership, mentoring, and community skills for careers in sport, youth work, or support services.

✦ Peer mentoring training ✦ Assistant coach pathway ✦ Safeguarding & leadership ✦ DA support worker pathway

Enhanced Safeguarding

Working with domestic abuse survivors and women at risk of exploitation requires safeguarding measures beyond standard protocols.

Confidential Address

Property addresses not published. Referral partners receive general area only until placement confirmed.

Controlled Visitors

No visitors without prior agreement. Ex-partners and named individuals permanently prohibited.

VAWG-Trained Staff

Mandatory training in Violence Against Women and Girls, trauma-informed practice, and coercive control.

Perpetrator Risk Assessment

Covering restraining orders, perpetrator location, tracking history, MARAC involvement. Reviewed monthly.

Safety Plan within 48 Hours

Personal safety plan developed within 48 hours of arrival and reviewed regularly. Emergency contacts and safe routines.

Multi-Agency Working

Links with MARAC/IDVA services where required, with clear escalation and information-sharing protocols.

Four Stages to Transformation

Both streams follow the same structured pathway — building skills, confidence, and opportunity at every stage.

1

Foundation

Weeks 1–6

Assessment, trust-building, introduction to structured training. Route selection, safety planning, and induction with qualified coaches.

2

Development

Months 2–4

Regular training (2–4/week), skill building, governing body registration, life skills, and education.

3

Competition & Growth

Months 5–9

Competition entry or instructor qualifications, work experience, volunteering, and growing independence.

4

Transition & Launch

Months 10–12

Career entry across chosen pathway. Move-on accommodation secured. Ongoing mentoring and alumni network.

Weekly Key-working

Weekly key-working and support plan review throughout the programme.

Monthly Reports

Monthly progress summary available to referrers on request.

Exit Outcomes

Outcomes recorded at programme exit for every participant.

More Than a Roof. A Real Future.

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Supported Accommodation

Safe, single-gender exempt supported housing with enhanced support, dedicated workers, personalised plans, and out-of-hours on-call.

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Structured Sport Training

Structured boxing training by qualified, DBS-checked coaches. Governing body registration and competition pathway.

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Trauma-Informed Support

A strengths-based approach understanding challenging behaviour as communication. Emotional regulation, not containment.

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Career Pathways

Coaching qualifications, fitness NVQs, event management experience, instructor pathway, and employment mentoring.

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Industry Connections

Direct access to professional coaches, event organisers, and sports professionals through our Boxing Programme Partner.

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Enhanced Safeguarding

Women's Rise: location confidentiality, controlled visitors, perpetrator risk assessment, VAWG-trained staff.

Measurable Impact

Ambitious, measurable targets across both streams. Monitored through support plans, attendance records, referrer feedback, and outcome tracking.

70%
Improvement in behaviour
Both Streams
80%
Tenancy sustainment (6+ months)
Both Streams
75%
Reduced offending risk
Both Streams
65%
Positive employment / training
Both Streams
85%
Maintained safety & stability
Women's Rise
75%
Improved confidence
Women's Rise
60%
Gain at least one qualification
Women's Rise
30%
Become active peer mentors
Women's Rise

Champions Talent Pipeline

The Champions Pathway operates across three tiers, using boxing, combat sport, and fitness to engage, stabilise, and progress young people who often struggle to engage with mainstream services. Young people can enter at any tier.

Tier 1

Engage

Ages 16-17 (+ 18+ open access) | Non-Residential

Structured training, mentoring, discipline, and confidence-building. 2-3 sessions per week at local gyms and community venues. No accommodation for under-18s.

Referrals from: YOTs, PRUs, youth services, early help, police diversion, schools, Virtual School, CAMHS, VRUs

Tier 2 - Housing Programme

Stabilise

Ages 18-25 | Exempt Supported Accommodation | 12 Months

The Champions Pathway Housing Programme. Single-gender supported houses with structured sport training, key-working, life skills, and career pathways.

Funded via: Housing Benefit (exempt), commissioned placements, social value / outcomes funding

Tier 3

Progress

Ages 18+ | Talent & Career Route

Progression for participants with talent and commitment. England Boxing amateur pathway, coaching qualifications, Level 2 Gym Instructor, event industry experience, athlete development.

Entry from: Tier 1 & 2 graduates, direct referral from coaches, self-referral

The pipeline works because each tier feeds the next — but no young person is locked into a single route. The goal is always the same: transform potential into talent.

Stateside Global Sports Partnership

In partnership with Stateside Global Sports, the Champions Pathway is supported by a developing boxing and fitness training centre model designed to strengthen consistency, widen engagement, and provide structured progression routes for young people.


The training centre vision will provide a dedicated base to support delivery across all three tiers — with professional facilities, safeguarding infrastructure, and a clear identity.

Additional Funding Opportunities

This model creates additional funding and grant opportunities through sport development, community safety, health and wellbeing, and social enterprise routes.

All under-18 engagement is delivered separately with age-appropriate safeguarding and supervision arrangements.

Who Can Be Referred?

Men's Structured Boxing Pathway House

  • ◆ Young men aged 18-25
  • ◆ Challenging behaviour / placement breakdown
  • ◆ At risk of homelessness
  • ◆ Care leavers with complex needs
  • ◆ Criminal justice involvement
  • ◆ Willing to engage with structured programme
  • ◆ Eligible for Housing Benefit

Women's Rise Programme

  • ◆ Young women aged 18-25
  • ◆ Emotional dysregulation and trauma responses
  • ◆ DA survivors requiring confidence rebuilding
  • ◆ Women at risk of exploitation or crisis
  • ◆ Care leavers needing women-only accommodation
  • ◆ Tenancy sustainment risk
  • ◆ Eligible for Housing Benefit

Not Suitable For

✘ High risk of serious violence, arson, or weapons use • ✘ Active unmanaged substance misuse requiring detox or rehabilitation • ✘ Acute mental health crisis requiring emergency containment or constant observation • ✘ Individuals requiring nursing care, 24-hour supervised care, or inpatient-level containment • ✘ MAPPA Level 2/3 cases where specialist placement is required • ✘ Where the individual is unwilling to engage in a structured programme and support plan

Zero tolerance on weapons, arson, and serious violence. Immediate placement termination and police referral where applicable.

Inclusive Approach

The Champions Pathway welcomes young people with neurodiversity, autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, and emotional dysregulation. Neurodiversity-informed support is available where needs can be safely managed within a supported housing setting.

Referral Process

1

Initial Enquiry (phone/email) — suitability discussed

2

Information Sharing — assessments, risks, support needs

3

Decision — typically within 24-48 hours once full information received

Two Referral Routes

Housing Referrals (Tier 2)

  • ◆ Local authority housing & social care
  • ◆ Probation services
  • ◆ Leaving care teams
  • ◆ Domestic abuse services & MARAC/IDVAs
  • ◆ Mental health services & NHS teams
  • ◆ Voluntary sector organisations
  • ◆ Self-referral with assessment

Training-Only Referrals (Tier 1 & 3)

  • ◆ Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) / Youth Justice
  • ◆ Pupil Referral Units (PRUs)
  • ◆ Youth services & early help teams
  • ◆ Police diversion teams
  • ◆ Schools & alternative provision
  • ◆ Virtual School (Children in Care)
  • ◆ CAMHS & voluntary sector
  • ◆ Violence Reduction Units (VRUs)
  • ◆ Community Safety Partnerships
  • ◆ Parent/guardian referral for under-18s

We accept referrals from across England, subject to suitability, local connection and Housing Benefit arrangements.