ITC: Matchroom Churchill Gym x Santa Monica Police Department

At a special event on Thursday evening, Matchroom Chairman, Eddie Hearn, visited the Matchroom Churchill Gym in Santa Monica, California, to celebrate a unique and impactful partnership that uses boxing to steer young people away from negative influences and encourage them to engage in positive, growth-oriented activities.

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) launched the LEAD programme in 2020 as a proactive effort to address youth crime through prevention and intervention. The acronym LEAD stands for Leadership, Engagement, Action and Discovery – with the programme being built around the core principle of diversion, empowering young people with the skills and guidance they need to thrive. From its inception, LEAD has been designed to reshape the relationship between law enforcement and the youth of Santa Monica, fostering trust, understanding and mutual respect – with a proven track record of reducing recidivism.

The programme began as an after-school initiative, offering young people a safe space at a local park and community hub. Recognising the importance of partnership, the programme established strong links with social services and the Police Activities League (PAL), organisations already working to support young people in Santa Monica. To better understand the interests of local youth, officers conducted focus groups, discovering a strong demand for boxing and soccer programmes in particular. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with over 50 kids showing up to participate in the initial sessions!

This early success led to the establishment of a formal partnership with the Matchroom Churchill Gym, which has since become the base of the LEAD programme. With the gym’s support, the programme now offers sessions 4-5 days a week, providing consistent opportunities for young people to engage in positive activities.