The Space Between the Ropes: Why Third Spaces Matter More Than Ever

I recently read a post on LinkedIn that really struck a chord with me.

It asked a simple, but powerful question:

"Home. School. And then what?"

For too many young people, there’s no answer. No youth club around the corner. No safe spot to meet friends or blow off steam. No place to just be themselves.

Sociologists call these missing pieces “third spaces” – places beyond home (first space) and school or work (second space), where people build identity, relationships, and belonging. Think community centres, sports clubs, youth hubs, libraries, music venues, parks — spaces that aren't about results or rules, but connection.

That post stuck with me because it put into words something we live and breathe every day at Boxing For Better.

Because what we offer isn’t just free boxing. It’s not just a sport. It’s a third space — and for many young people, it’s the only one they've got.

Third Spaces: The Missing Link in Youth Development

There’s a reason third spaces are so crucial. Psychologists like Erik Erikson talk about adolescence as a critical stage of “Identity vs. Role Confusion” — a time when young people explore who they are, what they value, and where they fit in the world.

But imagine trying to figure that out with nowhere to go. No one to talk to. No space where you feel seen, respected, or heard.

Without third spaces, we see the fallout:

• Rising isolation and anxiety.

• Increased risk of anti-social behaviour.

• A generation of young people who feel like they don’t belong anywhere.

Third spaces act as pressure valves. They allow young people to connect, express themselves, and find mentors outside the home or classroom. They give young people a stake in their community — and a sense of hope for the future.

Boxing For Better: More Than Punches

At Boxing For Better, we work tirelessly to keep our spaces open, welcoming, and free to access. Because we’ve seen what happens when young people walk through our doors.

🥊 It’s not just about punches. It’s about purpose.

💬 Not just exercise. It’s expression.

🚪 Not just four walls. It’s a second chance.

We create a space where a teenager who’s been excluded from school can rebuild their confidence. Where a quiet young person can find their voice. Where someone on the edge of giving up finds community, guidance, and grit.

We offer structure without pressure. Discipline without judgment. We champion every small win – whether it’s mastering footwork or simply turning up.

In the Ring, and Beyond It

Since 2010, over 750 youth centres have closed across England (YMCA, 2023).Public investment in youth services has dropped by over 70% in the last decade (NYA, 2022).

But the need hasn't disappeared. If anything, it’s grown.

We see it in the faces of the young people who show up after school, unsure at first, but slowly finding belonging between the ropes. We hear it in the parents who tell us this is the first place their child has felt safe and supported. We feel it in the energy of a packed-out community session — where no one’s checking phones, because everyone’s too busy being present.

The Impact We Don’t Always See

Sometimes the real victories don’t show up on funding reports or in social media stats. They show up in the quiet shift in a young person’s posture. The first time someone leads the warm-up. The moment a participant brings a younger sibling along — passing on the value of this space.

We’re building more than boxers. We’re building belonging. And in a world where so many safe spaces have vanished, that matters more than ever.

Final Thoughts: A Call to Value the Invisible

If you’re reading this as a parent, a teacher, a policymaker, or just someone who cares about young people, here’s the challenge:

Don’t overlook the importance of place. Third spaces are not a luxury — they are infrastructure for healthy communities. They are prevention and possibility, not just provision.

At Boxing For Better, we’ll keep fighting — gloves on, hearts open — to provide that space.

Because we believe that every young person deserves a corner to stand in.

And we’ll keep it there — ready and waiting — for the ones who need it most

Donate Today