Charity Spotlight - Empire Fighting Chance

14th April 2025

Every year, thanks to the support of our Festival-goers, crew and volunteers, Glastonbury is fortunate enough to be able to make charity donations to many amazing organisations working to make life better for those in need. 

In this feature, the first in our Charity Spotlight series, we shine a light on one of these inspiring charities and the dedicated people behind them.

Based in Bristol, Empire Fighting Chance uses non-contact boxing, mentoring programme and psychology to challenge, inspire and engage young people. Each year, their transformative initiatives help over 10,000 vulnerable young people realise their potential. 

We caught up with Courtney Young, Community Outreach Manager at Empire Fighting Chance, to hear about what they do.

Tell us about Empire Fighting Chance.
Empire Fighting Chance is a leading sport-for-development charity that was born on Bristol’s streets in 2006 to fight the impact of inequality on young people’s lives. We use a powerful combination of non-contact boxing and intensive personal support to challenge and inspire young people, aged 8 to 25.

These programmes are run in our gym, in schools and through a growing network of partner organisations and affiliated amateur boxing clubs in England and Wales.

How did this charity come into being? 
The charity was founded by Jamie and Martin who volunteered for Empire ABC, a boxing gym which had been in the community since the 1970s. One night they approached two young men dealing drugs outside of the gym and invited them in to train. Over the course of a few weeks, those two men invited their friends to take part in the sessions and the group grew to over 50 young people. 

How would you describe the kind of therapies you offer? 
Our therapies centre around relational practice to build a trusted alliance between a young person and coach. Our BoxTherapy team is made up of qualified therapists with a range of expertise and experience, so we can provide safe, personalised support for young people with complex needs. The team uses boxing practice as a tool to communicate; with a focus on body, space, power, rhythm, reflexes and concentration. 

What impact have they had?
The impact has been very positive. Out of all the young people we supported last year, 84% have said they feel more confident and 81% of young people who attended, reported feeling more resilient. These are the emotional foundations we are trying to build with our young people – to give them the skills to make more positive choices in their life.

What is the most inspiring thing about your work?
What’s most inspiring is seeing the transformation of our young people. A lot of those who we work with are nervous before their first session; their anxiety is so high that they need to have their hoods up, and they avoid eye contact with their coach. After a few weeks of settling into Empire, the same young person will come into the gym confidently, making eye contact and chatting to other coaches and young people. 

I once worked with someone who took three weeks to even have a conversation with me. She struggled to trust, having been passed between numerous schools and having challenging relationships at home. After a few weeks, she opened-up to me about her life and what she was facing every day and quickly connected with the non-contact boxing as a way to channel her energy. She went on to do her GCSEs and now works full time in Empire’s fundraising team, using her story to empower and inspire other young people.

What do you think makes your initiatives so effective?
Our coaches use their sessions to discuss with young people the issues they are facing, and this creates a relationship where they feel safe and comfortable in our gym. Once a young person is engaged, we share with them our Empire Principles, which act as a foundation for positive change. The Principles are designed to be applied to the young people’s lives, and not just when they are in the gym environment. For example, our Action Not Outcome principle encourages young people to focus on the steps they can take, however big or small, towards achieving their goals instead of focusing solely on the end-goal.

How can a young person take part?
A referral is the best way for our onboard team to pair a young person with a coach who can best support their needs. But young people can self-refer and we also get referrals from parents and carers, schools and medical professionals. The most important thing is that there are no restrictions on who can refer into any of our programmes. 

Our Outreach sessions don’t always require a referral, and many of them operate on a drop-in basis, such as in youth clubs or community centres. Those sessions are advertised locally and through our social media channels, and we’re always looking for new locations and areas to hold these community-focused sessions, so keep an eye out! 

How do donations like Glastonbury’s help Empire Fighting Chance?
Donations like Glastonbury’s support our mentoring / boxing therapy programmes and  significantly enhance Empire Fighting Chance’s ability to positively impact young people facing inequality helping thousands of young people build resilience.

Glastonbury’s support also facilitates unique experiences, such as volunteering at the Festival, which boost confidence and empower vulnerable youth to overcome challenges and pursue brighter futures.

Where can people find out more about supporting you or getting involved?
The best place for people to find out more about what we do is by our social media pages @Empirefightingchance or Email us: Info@empirefightingchance.org. We also encourage people to come down to our gym in Easton to see the fantastic work our team of coaches deliver.