Empire Fighting Chance fights the impact of deprivation on young people’s lives, using a powerful combination of non-contact boxing and intensive personal support to challenge and inspire young people to realise their potential.
The charity was started ten years ago when founders, Martin and Jamie, spotted two young men dealing drugs near to the Empire Boxing Gym in inner-city Bristol. They decided to tackle their behaviour and invited them for a private training session. Both enjoyed the session and turned up the following week with a few friends. Within six weeks, fifty young people were attending sessions five nights a week. Over time, Empire Fighting Chance has evolved from a small boxing project into a professional charity working across Bristol and South Wales.
The charity works with young men and women aged 8 to 21, targeting the most vulnerable, including those excluded from school, involved in crime and experiencing mental health issues.
The SFF’s unrestricted grant is supporting Empire to develop a partner programme to reach young people beyond Bristol and South Wales.