Having grown up spending a lot of time in boxing gyms, I know how much of a relief it is to hit a punchbag. When life feels heavy, having a space to release tension and clear your mind makes all the difference. That is why the Fight Forward programme in east London caught my attention.
Former Team GB boxer Lesley Sackey founded the project to offer free boxing classes to women who have survived domestic abuse. It gives them a safe space to rebuild physical strength, regain confidence and take back control.
Boxing might seem like an unusual way to recover from abuse. Domestic abuse strips away your control, leaving you with very little say over your own life. Training in a supportive gym works because it is entirely choice-based. It offers a structured environment where women set their own boundaries and process stress on their own terms.
To keep these classes free, Lesley partnered with boxing champion Shelly Sweeney and entrepreneur Poppy Mason-Watts to launch Fight Back Promotions. They organise fight nights, with a quarter of the profits funding future places for survivors. They also ensure matchings are fair, taking into account practical details that often get ignored, such as weight fluctuations during menstrual cycles.
I know what it feels like to start out quiet, hesitant and reserved in a gym. Over time, as you box more, your posture changes. Your shoulders lift, your head comes up, and you slowly start backing yourself.
Stepping into the ring is not about fighting an opponent. It is about proving to yourself that you are strong and worth standing up for.
To support the project or learn more about their work, visit fightforward.org.uk.
