What began as a few volunteer kickboxing sessions in a classroom has grown into something far bigger than anyone expected.

For the young people who walk through the doors of Mana Factory, a Community Link Trust initiative, the gym isn't just a place to exercise. It's become a place to rebuild confidence, regulate emotions, discover purpose and begin to believe in themselves.

Most of the rangatahi (teenagers) attending Community Link Trust programmes are considered ‘at risk’ – they may have experienced trauma, disengagement from education, low self-esteem, emotional dysregulation, antisocial behaviours, anger management issues or involvement with Youth Justice.

For many, simply stepping into a sporting environment can feel overwhelming.

Supported by Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa funding, Mana Factory was created to provide physical activity opportunities for young people who often miss out on sport or recreation opportunities.

Community Link Trust General Manager Kylee Forrester says the idea started simply.

"One of our volunteers began running kickboxing sessions because our young people weren't involved in any sport. They weren't at school, they weren't playing for clubs and they weren't getting those opportunities outside of our programmes."

Initially the sessions were held wherever space could be found - classrooms, outdoor areas or wherever the weather allowed.

Funding through Sport NZ’s Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa funding, delivered in the Waikato by Sport Waikato, changed that.

The Trust was able to purchase quality equipment, and after moving into a new building, allocate a dedicated training space and increase the number of sessions available each week. What followed surprised even those delivering the programme.

"It was originally about giving them something physical to do, building confidence and self-esteem," says Kylee. "But it's gone far beyond that."

The programme now supports 120 regular young people from Community Link Trust, Vision College and other community groups, while adapting sessions to suit girls-only groups and participants with disabilities.

Perhaps the biggest surprise has been the impact beyond the gym.

Student surveys revealed participants felt more confident, calmer and more motivated to make healthier choices and engage in learning.

"For me the challenge was about stepping outside of my comfort zone. I joined the gym to challenge myself, and discovered that I was capable of more.” Young person (16)

"I have anger issues. But since I joined the Mana Factory, I feel less stressed now." Young person (16)

Separate feedback from tutors mirrored those results, reporting noticeable improvements in classroom engagement, motivation and confidence.

For Community Link Trust, the physical activity is only part of the story.

"The sport gives them somewhere to start," says Kylee. "It gives them confidence, helps them regulate their emotions and creates an environment where they're ready to engage in the rest of life."

The organisation has already seen some young people progress into competitive kickboxing, continue training through community gym partnerships and make significant life changes after building trusted relationships through the programme.

Kylee remembers one young man was completely disengaged from school but was a regular at the gym.

"We didn’t see him for a while, and then one day he came back just to tell us he had stopped using drugs and decided not to join a gang; all because of the influence of the role models at The Mana Factory”.

Youth Mentor, Head trainer and former Muay Thai kickboxing champion Shannon "F16" Forrester is ‘dedicated to training fighters in the ring and nurturing good men and women outside the ring’.

“Kickboxing kept me on the straight and narrow, and I just want to give back and support these young people to have the same opportunities that I did.”

The success of Mana Factory is now shaping the next stage of Community Link Trust's vision.

For Funding Administrator Mandy Suvd, the greatest success isn't measured by how hard someone can punch or how much fitter they've become. It's the transformation she sees when they leave the gym.

"When I see our young people coming out of the gym, their eyes are just shining," she says.

Reading through the participant surveys reinforced what she was already witnessing every day.

"They were saying things like, 'After the gym, I just get calm.' There was a lot of rage in me and a lot of frustration, but after the gym I just feel calm."

Others spoke about feeling more confident, stronger and believing in themselves.

Mandy says the experience has changed her own understanding of the role physical activity can play.

"I'm not really a sport person, but I was amazed by the difference it made. I think the sport gives them a starting point. We try to help them feel better about themselves, but where do you start? Sport gives them that place to begin. They start to feel different, and from there everything else starts to change."

Community Link Trust Manager Kylee Forrester agrees.

"Originally, the funding was simply about giving our young people something physical to do to help balance their day and build confidence. But it's gone far beyond that."

Today, Mana Factory is helping young people reconnect with learning, improve their wellbeing and believe in a future they may never have thought possible.

Overall, Mana Factory is achieving a 97% positive impact rate across all agreed outcome areas, with 81% of participants demonstrating strong, clearly measurable transformation in their physical, emotional, and social wellbeing.

For a programme working with neurodiverse young people and those experiencing trauma and mental health challenges, these results represent an exceptionally strong and meaningful outcome. 

The evidence clearly shows that Mana Factory is not only meeting its intended goals but is creating lasting, life-enhancing change within our community.