Empire X Cardinal Newman, Lancashire Youth Challenge, Kemple View and Archbishop Temple Church of England High School

Collaborative Training Day at Cardinal Newman College

On September 9^th, an exciting collaboration took shape at Cardinal Newman College in Preston. Staff from Cardinal Newman, Lancashire Youth Challenge, Kemple View and Archbishop Temple Church of England High school gathered for the first of two intensive training days delivered by Empire Fighting Chance.

Hands-On Workshops and Practical Sessions

Hosted by Ben, Partnerships Manager, and Sam, Sports Psychologist and the brains behind the Box Champions Programme - the first day at Cardinal Newman College was packed with hands-on workshops, discussions, and practical sessions. Those in attendance were guided through key principles of the Box Champions programme with both practical and verbal demonstrations and given an understanding of how powerful our non-contact programme can be.

Feedback and Looking Ahead

Key feedback highlighted several strengths of the training day. Participants particularly valued the practical elements, such as the ice-breaking games and the activities designed to bring the programme’s principles to life. Many commented on the clear explanations of how to apply these principles within their own organisations, as well as the practical strategies for implementation and delivery. The psychological approach, especially its focus on fostering positive feelings rather than 'fixing' behaviour, was also praised. Several attendees noted that the principles of the Box Champions programme aligned closely with their own organisational values.

Further comments praised the quality of delivery and the positive learning environment, with attendees describing the day as enjoyable, informative, and perfectly suited to the content.

Day 2 of the training is scheduled to take place towards the end of 2025, whereby the focus will be fine-tuning the practical application of those in attendance, and formulating an action plan tailored to each organisation.