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Giving young people a Fighting Chance in Bristol
Empire Fighting Chance is a charitable organisation based in Bristol, UK, that uses boxing as a tool to engage and support young, disadvantaged people. Their pioneering approach to combining sport and psychology is just one of the reasons the Greggs Foundation began funding Empire Fighting Chance through its Community Hubs Programme – receiving £40,000 in total over two years.
Empire Fighting Chance have put this funding to excellent use. Creating a gym environment that has proved to be one of the main attractions in getting young people through the doors to begin the process of overcoming challenges related to poverty, mental health, and social exclusion.
We have come such a long way since the early days of Empire Fighting Chance back in 2013. We were just a small grassroots project when we spotted a group of young people engaging in criminal behaviour just outside of the gym. We decided to talk to them, discussed the path they were on and where it could lead and invited them into the gym to begin training. That really is how it began, simply finding that common ground of sport and seeing how it could give focus and a sense of belonging to a young person’s life.Michael Fuller, director of growth and Empire Fighting Chance
Today, Empire Fighting Chance directly works with over 3,000 young people aged 8-25 years old to provide them with the skills, support, and opportunities they need to succeed in life. A further 1,800 young people have been indirectly supported through their network of partners as the programme has expanded to other areas of the country.
The core work of Empire Fighting Chance is delivering a pioneering model to not only engage with young people experiencing difficulties arising from a disadvantaged background, but to help them develop new pathways out of hardship.
Many of the young people who engage with Empire Fighting Chance have experienced trauma or difficult circumstances in their lives. The organisation provides a safe and welcoming space where they can feel valued and supported by staff and peers while developing confidence and self-esteem.
Boxing training can be physically demanding, but it also requires mental toughness and discipline. As young people progress in their training, they develop a sense of pride and confidence in their abilities that can translate to other areas of their lives. At Empire Fighting Chance, the boxing training and its positive effect on physical health and wellbeing is a core part of the gym and is central to each of the three programmes delivered by the team.
Each programme uses non-contact boxing training and pairs it with mentoring, therapy or career skills to help reach a series of defined end-goals. The programmes are delivered by young, engaging and sports-focused mentors or trained therapists to help relate more easily with young people.
Regular exercise has been shown to have a range of physical and mental health benefits and we try and find ways for young people to improve their fitness, build strength and stamina, and develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime. We use sport and physical activity as a bridge to encourage young people to not only talk but develop positive relationships that can help to build life skills. Empire Fighting Chance also offers a range of educational and vocational opportunities to develop skills that can improve employability and prospects for the future. Our young people need to feel part of a community as many of our participants come from marginalised backgrounds. We are their first steps back into a supportive community, helping young people develop positive relationships and social networks that can help them to succeed. To assist in these goals beyond the gym, we have built relationships with local employers who can give our participants their first chance at a new life.Michael Fuller
Empire Fighting Chance is now in the process of scaling up its programme to extend beyond Bristol to other areas of the UK. Helping to spread their message of overcoming disadvantage through sport.
The positive impact of our programme means we get referrals from parents, carers, schools, the police and community groups. Given the number of referrals we receive, we wanted to look at ways that we could scale up the number of people we could reach. Thankfully, other organisations have really invested in our achievements, and we are now working in several new locations to help train partners to deliver our programme. Our hope is that the impact of Empire Fighting Chance in supporting young people to a brighter future can be replicated all over the UK.Michael Fuller
Empire Fighting Chance is one of the organisations to benefit from the Greggs Foundation Community Hubs programme. Community Hubs are community-focused organisations close to Greggs Outlets receiving a portion of the profits from Outlets in the form of annual grants. The grants total £20,000 per year, meaning revenue from the Outlets is invested directly back into the local community.
For Empire Fighting Chance, the core funding from the Community Hubs programme contributes to one of the most essential parts of the organisations appeal.
The funding from the Greggs Foundation pays for the main gym environment which is a huge part of our appeal to the young people we want to work with. The standards of the gym are so important when attracting young people to train here. They want to enjoy a good quality gym with the right equipment and thanks to the Greggs Foundation we can deliver this. It is funding that allows us to continue our work with young people in Bristol, providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed to build a brighter future for the next generation.Michael Fuller