Serena joins BBC Children in Need Challenge Squad

We’re incredibly proud to share that Serena has been announced as one of four inspirational young people taking part in BBC Children in Need’s 2026 Challenge Squad. Serena will be taking on a high-profile challenge, with further details to be revealed next week.

The Challenge Squad brings together four young people who have benefited from projects supported by BBC Children in Need funding. Now, they’re using their experiences to help make a difference for others. 

For Serena, this opportunity represents much more than a personal challenge. It’s a chance to reflect on how far she’s come, honour the memory of her brother and use her experiences to inspire other young people.

Finding her way forward 

Serena experienced profound loss when her older brother died while she was still a teenager. Struggling to cope with grief, she found it difficult to open up about her feelings. Anger and sadness affected her confidence and her hopes for the future. 

Her life began to change when she joined us at Empire Fighting Chance. Through our approach, which combines non-contact boxing with psychological support, we help young people build confidence, develop resilience and recognise their potential. 

Serena found positive role models, new opportunities and a supportive community that believed in her. What began as an opportunity to receive coaching and mentoring became a journey that helped her discover what she could achieve. 

Reflecting on the difference her time with us has made, Serena said:

Her message to the younger version of herself is one she hopes other young people will hear, too: 

Turning personal experience into a drive to help others 

Serena later experienced further heartbreak when her close childhood friend, Eddie King Kinuthia, was killed as a result of knife crime. 

Rather than allowing these experiences to define her future, Serena has channelled them into helping others. Today, she works with young people through Empire Fighting Chance, supporting them to recognise their potential and helping to tackle knife crime in her community. 

Her story reflects the importance of having people around you who believe in you, particularly when life feels difficult. With the right support, young people can begin to see possibilities beyond their immediate circumstances and find the confidence to take their next steps. 

Through the Children in Need Challenge Squad, Serena will share more of her journey with audiences across the UK, helping to shine a light on the challenges young people face and the difference that support, opportunity and belief can make.

A challenge with a personal meaning 

For Serena, taking part is an opportunity to develop her own confidence and perseverance, while also paying tribute to her brother and the legacy he has left in her life. 

She hopes the experience will help her become more confident performing in front of others, build patience and show herself what she is capable of achieving. 

Her journey reflects what we want every young person who walks through our doors to experience: the opportunity to discover their strengths, build belief in themselves and realise that their future doesn’t have to be defined by their past. 

As Serena prepares for the weeks ahead, she’ll be drawing on the lessons she’s learned through her time with us. This includes the importance of trusting the process, embracing nerves and being willing to step outside her comfort zone. 

We’re excited to follow Serena’s journey and share more about her challenge next week. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for updates on Serena’s Children in Need challenge and how you can support the campaign.