My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
Yes
I am 18 years of age or above, by the application deadline.
Yes
My organisation is a registered UK entity and has a London-based address.
Yes
My organisation is a non-profit (e.g. school, university, or local authority) — not a for-profit, which can only join as a partner.
Yes
If there is a for-profit organisation as a partner in my initiative, they work on a cost-recovery basis only.
Yes
My solution is implemented at scale, or if not, I have a clear business plan, a minimum viable solution (prototype, pilot, or proof of concept), evidence of access to a lease for the space you are leveraging, and evidence of work or impact in London within your coalition.
Yes
I am aware that, if I am submitting more than one application to a Challenge run by Ashoka and Go! London, only one of them is able to progress through the stages.
Yes
Are you an employee (and their children and grandchildren) of Ashoka or any of its respective affiliates and participating advertising and promotion agencies?
No
I have read and accepted the Challenge Terms & Conditions.
Yes
First Name
Isaac
Last Name
Bokoko
Pronouns
He/Him
Email address
I would like to receive notifications and updates about Go London!, Ashoka, Ashoka Changemakers, and other Ashoka opportunities.
0
Are you an Ashoka Fellow?
Yes
Are you applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow?
No
If you are applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow, please specify the name and organisation of the fellow below.
Lead Organisation Name
FRATHLETICS
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
2024
Initiative Title
FRATHLETICS
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
frathletics.co.uk @frathletics_
Initiative Stage
Growth (You’ve moved past the very first activities; working towards the next level of expansion.)
Sectors/Themes: What topic does your project most directly relate to?
Children & Youth
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
Transforming underused community centres like Hargrave Hall into free, youth‑driven Muay Thai hubs, we enable 6–12, 12–16 and 18–25‑year‑olds priced out of combat sports to build fitness, confidence and life skills in a safe space, while developing the next generation of young leaders who will work in and strengthen their own communities.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve and who will benefit the most from your solution? How close are you to the problem and/or community impacted?
We are seeing growing isolation, disconnection, and poor mental health among young people in our community, especially those from working‑class and global majority backgrounds who are excluded from safe, positive spaces. Many commercial combat sports gyms and trendy boxing/MMA clubs are now too expensive, meaning the young people who could benefit most are being priced out and left with very few alternatives. Increased time spent indoors and online is also reducing real‑life connection, confidence‑building, and chances to belong to something bigger than yourself. Our initiative is designed for 6–12, 12–16 and 18–25‑year‑olds who are being locked out of these spaces because of cost, class and culture, but who deserve access to supportive environments where they can grow and lead. We know how powerful Muay Thai can be because we have lived it ourselves. As co‑founders, we share many of the same experiences as the young people we work with: growing up working class in council housing, being priced out of sport, and facing additional barriers linked to neurodiversity such as dyspraxia and ADHD. Muay Thai has helped improve our focus, fine motor skills, discipline, confidence, and sense of belonging. Because we are from this community and remain part of it, we are very close to the problem and trusted by those we serve. For us, Muay Thai is a vessel – a culturally relevant, engaging way to bring young people into a safe environment where they can connect, learn, and be themselves, instead of being excluded from sport, community, and opportunity.
Your approach: How are you/ will you addressing the problem outlined above? How does your solution unlock or reimagine access to spaces for sport and physical activity? What role do landowners, local authorities, or other decision-making stakeholders play in your approach? We'd love to know about the origin of your idea, and what was your "aha" moment" that led you to take action?
We chose not to open a private gym because we saw how that model pushes prices up and locks out the very young people we want to reach. Instead, we partnered with Hargrave Hall Community Centre, a long‑standing local space that was often underused by young people, and reimagined it as a combat sports hub. By working with an existing community venue rather than against it, we are able to keep sessions free, bring in equipment, and fill the hall with young voices, energy, and leadership instead of one‑off hires and private functions. Our solution unlocks access by changing both who uses the space and how it is used. Hargrave Hall is no longer just a site for weddings or occasional events; it becomes a regular, youth‑centred training space where movement, mentoring, and community all happen under one roof. The Hall’s management act as key stakeholders and landowners in this approach, supporting our long‑term use of the space and collaborating with us to make it welcoming and safe for local young people. We saw young people desperate to join trendy combat sports gyms but held back by high fees and travel costs. Rather than create another commercial gym, we asked: what if we brought Muay Thai to them, in their own neighbourhood, in a place they already know? That question led us to Hargrave Hall, and our ongoing partnership shows how community centres can be reactivated as affordable, inclusive sports spaces rooted in local relationships.
Collaboration with young people and the community: In what ways does your initiative engage young people and community members closest to the problem? What role do they play in building the solution you deliver?
Our initiative is fundamentally youth-led and community-rooted, with young people and local families actively shaping every aspect of our work rather than just attending it. We empower participants from our area to co-create sessions through feedback circles where they suggest drills, themes, and pacing that reflect their interests and cultures. For example, 18-25s have pushed for more partner work and intenser drills, while younger children requested for fun warm-ups with making the space feel truly theirs. We go further by training young people as peer leaders and future coaches. Selected participants work 1:1 with our coaches to co-design sessions, assist with demonstrations, and support newcomers, building their confidence while modelling behaviour for their peers. We believe strongly in peer-to-peer learning, as we’ve seen it transform our own lives. Parents and community members are engaged too – we send off feedback forms where they share their thoughts on classes and celebrate progress. This ensures our solution stays responsive to the community closest to the challenge, with young people not just as beneficiaries but as co-builders and leaders of a space that belongs to them.
Potential for/Evidence of Impact: How do you imagine your initiative will make a difference in unlocking spaces for and access to physical activity and sport so far? If you have already implemented it, what difference have you made so far? What is the impact your initiative has had , and or what impact do you envision having in the future?
In the short time we have been running (under a year), we have already unlocked Hargrave Hall as a regular Muay Thai space for 50+ young people aged 6–25, turning an underused community hall into a vibrant, twice‑weekly hub with 80% attendance from those who would otherwise be excluded from paid sports. We’ve seen clear early outputs: around 10-20 young people age 6-12 attend our Muay Thai Tuesday sessions. We were training up one teen Jon (18 years old) to help run our kids class. One 12-year-old said: “It’s the first place I’ve felt strong and part of something – not judged.” Another, a 8-year-old with ADHD,Autism and Epilepsy mum has expressed “he is much more focused in school now and looks forward to each session” With this funding, we envision scaling to 65+ young people per term across 3 weekly sessions, while training 5 peer leaders annually. Long‑term, we aim to create a pipeline where today’s participants become tomorrow’s coaches, sustaining the space beyond our involvement and inspiring replication in other local halls who have already expressed interest. This addresses structural barriers by proving community centres can host affordable, youth‑led sports that build belonging, resilience, and skills. Evidence will come from baseline/follow‑up surveys (tracking fitness, confidence, social connection), attendance data, parent testimonials, and case studies with consent. We project 300+ young people impacted over 3 years, with 30% progressing to leadership roles – deep, scalable change rooted in relationships and real community need.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
Our approach stands out by rejecting the commercial gym model that prices out working-class youth and instead reactivating underused community halls like Hargrave Hall as free, youth-led Muay Thai hubs – breathing new life into spaces that were previously quiet midweek venues for weddings or meetings. What makes us different from other sports programmes or free youth activities: Space innovation: We don’t just hire a room; we reimagine the entire hall’s purpose during key hours, installing combat sports equipment and turning it into a regular gym where young people feel ownership. Unlike pop-up sessions or school PE, this creates a consistent “home base” in a familiar, trusted community spot. Youth leadership pipeline: Rather than adults delivering top-down coaching, we train participants (like 18-year-old Jon co-running kids’ classes) as peer leaders from day one, building a self-sustaining model where today’s 6–12-year-olds become tomorrow’s coaches. This peer-to-peer dynamic is especially powerful for neurodiverse or shy young people who connect better with near-peers. Culturally rooted combat sports: We bring trendy Muay Thai – hugely popular but unaffordable elsewhere – into a non-commercial context, blending hard skills (fitness, technique) with soft skills (resilience, focus) in a way that resonates with global majority youth facing exclusion. This tackles root causes: cost barriers, lack of local options, and cultural irrelevance of mainstream sports. By shifting norms – proving community centres can host dynamic, youth-driven fitness – we challenge the idea that sport must be privatised or institutional to thrive, creating replicable change in overlooked spaces.
Viability and Scalability: How are you setting your initiative up for success, and what is your plan to ensure operational sustainability of your solution and its impact? What are your ideas for scaling your initiative to the next level?
We’ve set up for success through strong foundations: a proven partnership with Hargrave Hall (secure, flexible space hire at low/no cost), experienced coaches. Operations run smoothly with clear safeguarding, risk management, and DBS-checked staff, plus simple tools like attendance tracking and feedback loops. Sustainability plan: * Income streams: Free core youth sessions funded by grants (like this one), corporate sponsorships (local businesses for kit/refreshments), and tiered adult classes age 25-35 (£3–£5 per session) to cross-subsidise. We’re already piloting this. * FRA Agency: Creating an agency side of the organisation where we can bring our bespoke programs to commercial gyms, schools, centres—operating on basis where the young people we train up and engage with can also be provided with paid professional opportunities once trained up as a leader. * Leadership pipeline: Training 5 peer leaders/year ensures internal coaches, reducing external hires and upskilling our community. * Community ownership: Parent committees and youth input keep us responsive. Scaling roadmap (next 3 years): * Year 1: Expand to 3x weekly sessions, train first 5 young leaders; deepen Hargrave partnership. * Year 2: Roll out to 2+ new Islington/Camden venues (local councils/community centres already interested in our model); launch “train the trainer” for 10 alumni coaches. * Year 3: Cross-borough network of 3+ reimagined spaces, including council-led centres; create free digital toolkit for replication. We’ve started conversations with Camden/Islington authorities, who see us as catalysts for new developments, and creative professionals/production companies for youth upskilling via sports+creativity fusion.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
Team Roles Founder Ryan (Safeguarding & Mental Health Lead): Leads Tuesday Muay Thai classes for kids (6–12) and 18–25s; drives fundraising and builds parent relationships. His on-the-ground presence helps him understand and respond to young people’s needs directly. He ensures all safeguarding documents and mental health support for team/community stay up to date. Founder Nishan (Operations): Manages admin, DBS/safeguarding/first aid compliance, and medical records for participants. As a semi-pro footballer with experience using sport for youth development, he also delivers strength & conditioning sessions. Coach Stef: Leads women’s/girls-only Friday classes, creating safe, empowering spaces in a male-dominated sport. Her expertise ensures high-quality, trauma-informed delivery. Founder Isaac Bokoko (Head of Community & Partnerships): Leverages lived experience (ADHD, dyspraxia, working-class council estate roots) and amateur Muay Thai background to build ties with councillors, organisations, and families. Steps in to coach when needed. Michael Samson (Communications & Partnerships): Supports Isaac with outreach, ensuring community access. Maintains relationships with local businesses/organisations keen to back us. Hargrave Hall Community Centre (Key Partner): Provides venue, cleaning, storage, and security for all sessions; leverages deep Islington networks for reach and trust. This clear division, rooted in everyone’s strengths and lived experience, ensures smooth delivery, safety, and community ownership.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/to grow.
Upcoming Milestones Q3 2026 (Aug–Sep, post-grant award 1st Aug): Launch with funding at Hargrave Hall. * Purchase equipment (pads, gloves, mats, bags). * Launch 3x weekly sessions (Tue kids/adults, Fri women/girls, new thursday slot), targeting 65+ youth/term. * Train first 5 peer leaders with Level 1 coaching basics. Q4 2026 (Oct–Dec): Build capacity and evidence impact. * Roll out baseline surveys + monthly feedback for 80% retention goal. * Pilot additional adult classes for cross-subsidy revenue (£5–10/session). * Deepen Hargrave partnership; host first youth feedback forum. Q1 2027 (Jan–Mar): Begin scaling and partnerships. * Expand to 1–2 new Islington/Camden venues (council/centre talks ongoing). * Launch “train the trainer” for 10 alumni coaches. * Develop FRA Agency prototype: pitch bespoke programmes to 1 school/gym. Q2 2027 Onward: Network growth. * Establish cross-borough model in 3+ spaces; release free replication toolkit. * Achieve 300+ youth reached, 30% in leadership roles, with full income mix (grants, agency, sponsorships). This timeline delivers immediate access (50+ youth now → 65+ soon), mid-term sustainability (peer coaches, revenue), and long-term scale (network effect), tracking progress via attendance, feedback, and leadership quals.
Capacity-Building Participation and Support Funding: If you were to make it as a finalist, you will be required to participate in an 8-week capacity building programme. If funding/ cost is a barrier to your participation, we may be able to offer up to 10,000 GBP of grant money available to support you. Please break down below, if it is the case, what costs you would incur and you would need covered. (Please note that there are restrictions on how the grant money may be used; please refer to the T&Cs for further details.
FRAthletics would fully commit to participating in the 8-week capacity-building programme as finalists, as it aligns perfectly with our growth plans. However, funding/cost is a barrier, and we would request up to £8,500 support to cover the following: Staff backfill (£6,000): 2 days/week for 8 weeks x 2 key staff (Ryan & Isaac) at £75/day to cover operations during programme attendance. Travel & expenses (£1,500): Travel to sessions/workshops for team (Islington/Camden base), plus any materials/printing. Casual coach cover: £1,000 for relief coaches (2 sessions/week).
