Transforming Estates
Through Callisthenics

A youth-led crime prevention and community transformation programme for young people aged 11–15 living on priority MK estates.

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Transforming Estates Through Callisthenics is a new pilot initiative funded through MK Movers and delivered by The Swans Community Partnership. The programme provides free, estate-based callisthenics sessions for young people aged 11–15 living on selected Milton Keynes estates, beginning with a focused pilot across two to three priority communities.

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The project has been developed in direct response to community insight gathered through consultation work supported by The Swans Community Partnership, LEAP and The Open University. This insight identified youth violence, criminal exploitation, lack of trusted activity spaces and limited access to positive structured opportunities as key concerns across several estates.

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The programme uses callisthenics — accessible bodyweight strength training — as a vehicle to:

• Reduce youth involvement in violence and criminal exploitation

• Increase access to safe, inclusive physical activity within estates

• Build protective factors through trusted adult relationships and peer networks

• Develop youth leadership and ownership within communities
   

Weekly sessions will take place on selected estates including Eaglestone and Fullers Slade (pilot delivery initially focused on 2–3 estates). Sessions will run during evenings and school holidays to ensure accessibility during peak community hours.

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Delivery will be relationship-led and trauma-informed. Sessions will combine:

• Structured callisthenics training

• Skill progression and visible achievement

• Youth mentoring and informal discussion

• Peer leadership development opportunities
   

A distinctive long-term ambition of the programme is to repurpose confiscated knives into fixed callisthenics gym equipment installed directly on estates. This symbolic transformation — turning tools of harm into tools for strength and growth — underpins the wider vision of reclaiming community spaces and creating visible, youth-owned assets that promote pride and belonging.

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Young people will be supported to co-design and eventually co-deliver sessions alongside experienced tutors and credible adults, including rehabilitated ex-offenders and community mentors. This approach strengthens relatability, trust and authenticity, particularly for young people at risk of exploitation.

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Engagement will prioritise:

• Young people aged 11–15 at risk of violence or criminal exploitation

• Those previously engaged through OU and LEAP consultation work

• Peer-to-peer recruitment and street-based outreach

• Non-judgemental taster sessions focused on enjoyment and belonging
   

As this is a pilot phase (12 weeks delivery following 4 weeks of engagement), robust baseline insight and evaluation will be gathered throughout. Monitoring will focus on attendance, retention, reported wellbeing, increased protective factors and qualitative changes in attitudes toward violence, safety and community pride.

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Transforming Estates Through Callisthenics is designed to do more than deliver activity. It seeks to transform estates into safer spaces, empower young people as leaders, and create sustainable community assets that outlast the initial funding period.