Local community organisation Proaction Martial Arts & Fitness hosted its Annual Awards Evening 2026, bringing together students, families, and business partners to celebrate achievement, confidence and community contribution.

The event was held at Franklin’s Gardens and highlighted the organisation’s ongoing commitment to youth development and local engagement within the Northamptonshire business community.

The evening welcomed special guest speaker Luke Chadwick, former Manchester United midfielder, who joined the event to present awards and share insights from his professional sporting career.

Speaking to attendees, Chadwick discussed resilience, mindset and the importance of learning from setbacks — messages that strongly resonated with young students attending the ceremony.

The Awards Evening recognised students across Taekwondo, Kickboxing and Mighty Monkeys programmes for their commitment, discipline and personal development.

Awards were not solely based on technical performance. Instead, students were celebrated for demonstrating core values including respect, focus, confidence and perseverance.

The event also reflected strong local business engagement.

Headline sponsorship from Wilson Browne Solicitors supported the evening, alongside contributions from several other regional businesses.

Organisers reported record participation in the evening’s raffle, helping raise funds for two charity partners: Service Six, which supports children’s mental health locally, and The Amani School, an international education initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Directors Tom and Jas Nicholson explained the purpose behind the Awards Evening, is to represent more than a celebration of sporting achievement. They explained that the event demonstrates how community organisations, families and businesses can work together to create positive opportunities for young people.

The organisation also announced plans to launch the Proaction Charitable Foundation, which will focus on widening access to martial arts training, supporting families in need, and strengthening community impact across the region.

The Annual Awards Evening is part of the wider contribution that Proaction Martial Arts & Fitness makes to youth development, confidence building and community wellbeing in Northamptonshire and beyond.