Ataraxia (registered as ‘Ataraxia for All CIC’ company no: 14338459) is a Community Interest Company founded by renowned professional athlete and World-Class coach Tom Blackledge, and his wife Stella Blackledge MiTOL, a Learning and Development professional. We founded Ataraxia to offer exceptional quality sporting, mentoring and training opportunities to equip individuals, groups and businesses with the ‘tools for tranquility’ necessary to be the very best of themselves.

The ancient Greek term ‘ATARAXIA’ means: Freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety, to be in a state of calm tranquility and readiness for life.

We believe that all people – regardless of age, status and abilities – deserve to achieve this state of ataraxia, and our highest aim as an organisation is therefore; 'To enable achievement of ataraxia for all.’

Our Mission: We will work to improve the physical and mental health, skills, and confidence of citizens in the local community, with an emphasis on those who are hard-to-reach due to deprivation, emotional or mental health difficulties, or any other socio-economic issues which contribute to individuals becoming distanced from engaging with the local community.

Our Objectives:

• We will run sporting and physical activities for all ages and abilities. (eg. Boxing, Wrestling, Fitness.)

• We will run learning and development opportunities for individuals, groups and organisations of all sizes and origins. (eg Mindset, Emotional Intelligence, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness and Breathwork, First Aid for Mental Health.)

• Through classes, group work and regular community meetings, we will offer places and opportunities for people to meet and interact with other members of the local community.

Our Desired Outcomes

• To improve physical health of participants.

• To improve mental health of participants.

• To increase social engagement for participants.

• We believe that in terms of impact, physical activities and the sense of ‘belonging’ to a group that we provide will also provide a diversion from engagement in Anti Social Behaviours and prevent the development of emotional/mental issues, particularly for the younger demographic.

• To improve skills, abilities, confidence, employability of participants.

• To enable organisations and groups to more effectively and efficiently care for the personal development, emotional and mental health of members.

Who we work with

• Individuals – through individual engagement and also through targeted support agencies.

• Groups – from community groups to existing sport/special interest groups.

• Businesses – commercial, public sector and third sector.

We offer corporate rates to individuals, groups and businesses who are able to self-fund our services, and we encourage and will support those who wish to seek external funding to support delivery or our services. We as an organisation will endeavour to procure funding to offer our services free to those individuals and groups who would most benefit from them.

Our services

• Classes and individual sessions on a range of physical activities, including boxing, wrestling, general fitness.

• Classes and individual sessions, workshops and courses on a range of learning and development opportunities to support better mental health, resilience and emotional intelligence.

• Classes and individual sessions on a range of alternative therapies such as breathwork and meditation, to support reduction of anxiety and improve mental and physical stress responses.

• Social opportunities – such as coffee mornings, community clean-ups and other socially responsible activities.