Women In Coaching: Emma Middleton

England Boxing is proud to team up with UK Coaching to address a drop in the number of female coaches in the UK. We have partnered with the leading charitable organisation in the UK for sport and physical activity coaches to tell the inspirational stories of six female boxing coaches who have recently completed qualifications with us.

The final coach in our Women in Coaching series is 34-year-old Emma Middleton, from Peckham, who has battled through personal struggles to become a cornerstone of her local boxing community.

During her toughest years, the sport gave her purpose – and now she’s helping others overcome adversity at London Community Boxing.

Emma had never seen herself as a natural athlete. She hated PE at school, found it embarrassing, and convinced herself that sport wasn’t for her.

However, in 2019, when facing struggles with addiction and her mental health and admitted into treatment with the local drug and alcohol service, Emma discovered sport and movement were a vital tool to help her recover.

It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Emma discovered the benefits of boxing and, once restrictions were lifted, she joined her first boxing gym and “caught the bug”. She became an amateur boxer and had 8 bouts before turning her hand to coaching.

Emma had worked as a museum curator for ten years, however following her mental health crisis she slowly realised that this wasn’t the right path for her. Recently diagnosed with ADHD, she now understands why traditional office work was not the best environment for her brain to thrive. Coaching, on the other hand, was an enticing opportunity, offering freedom and giving purpose to her life.

“I talked to the club where I work and started doing classes with them. The rest is history,” she says.

Determined to learn as much as she could, the Peckham-based coach joined England Boxing’s Women’s Coaching Development programme, an experience Emma found “incredibly special”, meeting and connecting with people who have the same passion as her, including her mentor, Kate Waters.

The programme developed her existing coaching skills, supporting her to build a career helping others to access the sport she truly believes helped save her life. Today she coaches children and young people, people with mental health challenges, people in addiction recovery, people with SEND, refugees, older people, mothers, people experiencing grief and bereavement and many women and girls.

She says: “Now I’ve totally found my purpose. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say boxing saved my life. I don’t know if I’d still be here if I hadn’t found this pathway.

“Boxing was the only place where I seemed to be able to function properly. It kept me going. It’s changed me so much as a person. Now I’m embedded in the community and understand so many different types of people.”

Emma’s positive experience emphasises that opportunities do exist for women, however female coaching numbers are falling. New data from UK Coaching’s Coaching in the UK Report reveals a decline in the number of female coaches across all levels – from 44% in 2022 to 38% in 2024 – despite women making up 51% of the UK population.

In response to these figures, UK Coaching is developing a Gender Impact Strategy to create inclusive and diverse coaching environments, promote equity, and drive systemic change.

Those aims reflect Emma’s own journey working in a male-dominated landscape. At first, she faced her share of challenges.

“If I had a pound for every time someone asks, ‘Are you boxing for self-defence?’, I’d be incredibly rich,” she says.

There is, however, strong support around her, meaning aspiring coaches shouldn’t be deterred by outdated stereotypes.

“As I’ve progressed my confidence has improved and the community has been very supportive. There’s still a long way to go before we reach gender equality in boxing, but the sport is changing fast – and now as a female coach, I feel confident walking into almost any boxing space.”

Boxing has helped Emma become the community hero she is today. She’s grown in confidence and become comfortable in herself and in new environments.

She hopes others will follow the same path, and believes that increasing the number of female coaches will create a more welcoming environment for women and girls.

She explains: “I used to have really low confidence and self-esteem. At first, I would have been really embarrassed to say to male coaches that I wanted to be a coach. I was embarrassed to say it to women as well, but it always felt a little bit easier.”

Boxing clubs around the UK are always looking for new coaches, and Emma is adamant that those looking to get involved shouldn’t be concerned about their lack of experience.

She urges: “A lot of people who do the Level One England Boxing Coaching Qualification haven’t boxed before. That doesn’t mean that you can’t be a great coach. It is never too late to go to a boxing class and fall in love with the sport, and you don’t need to be an expert to start your coaching journey.”

Emma’s story proves that with the right opportunities and support, coaching doesn’t just improve lives, it also saves them.

UK Coaching and England Boxing are also dedicated to celebrating inspiring coaching stories from every sport, at every level, to shine a light on the unsung heroes who are building stronger clubs, communities, and futures.