22nd January 2026
Sanctuary Supported Living
Athlete mentor Claire Bennett with Basildon resident Saphffire
The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and Sanctuary Supported Living are marking the fifth year of their partnership, continuing a shared commitment to supporting young people to build confidence, resilience and wellbeing through the Trust’s bespoke Get on Track programme.
Funded through Sanctuary’s Sustainable Communities programme, the 2026 delivery will see young people supported through a 20-session programme led by world-class athlete mentors, designed to strengthen resilience, connection and employability skills within local communities.
In 2025, the programme supported residents at Brighton & Hove Foyer, Dove Cott House Foyer and Swan House Foyer in Essex, and services in Canterbury. This year, delivery will expand to Weston Foyer where Paralympic swimming gold medallist Liz Johnson will support young people in Weston-super-Mare, as well as Victoria Road and Rose House where athlete mentor Michael Tobin, a former World Champion in kickboxing and Thai boxing, will work with residents in Hartlepool. Commonwealth fencing gold medallist Claire Bennett returns to Basildon.
Demonstrating impact
Last year’s Get on Track programme delivered strong outcomes across the Trust’s four core measures of confidence, self-esteem, resilience and wellbeing. Across participating sites in Brighton, Basildon and Canterbury, Sanctuary Supported Living residents recorded a 64% increase in wellbeing, with 61% reporting improved resilience, almost half reporting increased confidence, and 50% noting increased self-esteem.
At the Basildon programme, resident Saphffire engaged positively throughout the programme, building a strong relationship with athlete mentor Claire Bennett and growing in confidence over the course of the sessions.
Reflecting on the experience, Saphffire said: “The whole experience was very get-up-and-go! Claire brought lots of positive energy. It was great to have someone with the motivation and strategies to help you move forward and achieve your goals.”
“It’s really exciting to be starting another year of delivery with Sanctuary Supported Living."
Speaking about the continuation of the partnership, Annie Moody, Interim CEO of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, said: “It’s really exciting to be starting another year of delivery with Sanctuary Supported Living. Over the course of the partnership, we’ve built a strong relationship, and the success of the programmes with residents reflects that. With our world-class athlete mentors leading the programme, I’m confident that young people in Basildon, Weston-super-Mare and Hartlepool will be supported to realise their potential.”
Sanctuary Supported Living’s Operations Director, Dave Shaw, said: “We see first-hand the importance of supporting young people to build confidence, resilience and the employability skills that build the foundations for independence and success in their lives. We’re proud to be the only housing provider partnering with the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust who bring proven, evidence-led and inspiring programmes that our young people can relate to. Entering our fifth year together reflects both the impact of the programme and our shared commitment to delivering meaningful outcomes for individuals and communities.”
Find out more about how we support young people, read our latest news, or find a service near you.
