A New Chapter for Empire Fighting Chance: The Annex Build

Empire Fighting Chance is thrilled to share some incredible news, the completion of our Annex, a brand-new space that marks an exciting new chapter in our journey to support young people through opportunity, growth and community.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our funders we've been able to bring this vision to life; Bernard Sunley Foundation, Burden Trust, Clothmakers Foundation, Dame Violet Wills Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, John James Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Rachel Trust, St James's Place Foundation, The Hodge Foundation, The Nisbet Trust, Van Neste Foundation. Their generosity has made it possible to shape spaces that truly reflect the heart and purpose of Empire Fighting Chance.

A Space for Growth: The Careers Room

The new Careers Room has been designed especially for young people to work on CVs, job applications, and educational projects in a calm, supportive environment. This safe and inspiring space gives them a chance to focus on their goals and build confidence for their future. This means young people now have a dedicated place to prepare for employment and education, setting them up for success long after their time at Empire Fighting Chance.

Building Community: The Community Room

Another key part of our Annex is the new Community Room, a flexible space where meetings, workshops, and corporate sessions can take place. It also offers a venue for other local organisations to use, creating a stronger sense of connection within the wider Bristol community.

This space is a true reflection of Empire Fighting Chance’s values: giving back, collaborating, and strengthening community ties. We’re deeply thankful to our funders for making it possible to open our doors even wider to those around us.

Nourishing Futures: The Kitchen

We’ve also got a brand-new kitchen, a space that will be used to teach young people vital cooking skills and how to prepare nutritious meals. This will give Kirsten, our Nutrition Lead, the ideal environment to engage with young people, helping them understand how good food supports both physical and mental wellbeing.

This kitchen will also play a big role in the Box Sisterhood programme, which is already in full swing with Session 3 starting next week. The programme empowers young women through sport, life skills, and positive health habits, and the kitchen will give them a new way to learn, connect, and grow. Where none of this would be possible without the John James Foundation whose generosity has made it possible to build a space that nourishes body and mind.

Empowerment in Motion: The New Gym

Another exciting addition to our Annex is the New Gym, designed to give young people a quieter, private space to work one-to-one with their coaches while still being part of the energy and atmosphere of the main gym.

This thoughtful design allows for both focus and connection, supporting emotional wellbeing as much as physical progress. We’re incredibly grateful to our funders for helping us create an environment that meets young people’s diverse needs and their unique journey, enhancing their experience at Empire Fighting Chance. The Youth Voice Group is currently helping to choose a name for this new space, ensuring it truly reflects what it means to them…

Youth Voice at the Heart of the Annex

The Youth Voice Group is already hard at work helping to name the new rooms and pitch artwork ideas for The Annex. Their creativity and insight ensure the space truly belongs to the young people, because everything at Empire Fighting Chance is built for them and with them.

Listening to young people and giving them a say in the design and feel of their spaces is a vital part of what makes this charity so unique. Their ideas and feedback shape how Empire continues to evolve and grow.

A Home for Collaboration: New Office Space

For nearly ten years, the Empire Fighting Chance team worked from a small portacabin in the car park, a space that served us well but could never match the scale of our ambition. Despite the limited space and makeshift setup, our teams continued to grow, collaborate, and deliver incredible impact for young people.

Now, moving into a purpose-built office within The Annex marks a major milestone in our journey. For the first time, our fundraising, operations, and scale teams have a permanent home designed to bring everyone together under one roof.

This modern, open space is more than just an office, it’s a symbol of how far we’ve come. It fosters collaboration, creativity, and connection, while hot-desking for coaches ensures flexibility and inclusion remain at the heart of how we work. It’s a true reflection of Empire Fighting Chance’s growth and the shared purpose that continues to drive us forward.

Transforming the Space Through Generous Support

We are incredibly grateful to Overbury and their client, National Grid, as well as Collecteco, for donating over £40,000 worth of office furniture and technology to support Empire Fighting Chance’s new home in The Annex.

Their combined contribution, including desks, chairs, screens and pedestals — has helped us create a modern, motivating workspace that brings our fundraising, operations, and scale teams together under one roof for the first time. Overbury and National Grid provided much of the tech and seating, while Collecteco sourced, stored, and transported items to ensure a smooth transition into our new space. This generosity has saved us vital resources, allowing us to focus more on what matters most: supporting young people.

The impact has been felt across the organisation:

“By donating, storing and transporting furniture and tech for our new space, they’ve not only improved our environment but also saved us vital resources, helping us continue to change young people’s lives for the better.”
— Martin Bisp

“The new furniture and equipment have improved how we work day-to-day and helped create a more professional and motivating space.”
— Jamie Sanigar

“Their support has gone far beyond just donating furniture… helping us create a space we’re so proud of.”
— Emily Haberfield

We are deeply thankful to Overbury, National Grid, and Collecteco for helping us take this exciting next step and create a space that will enable us to continue delivering life-changing support to young people.

Looking Ahead

Every part of this new build, from the Careers Room to the Kitchen, represents more than just new walls and furniture. It represents opportunity, growth and community. The generosity of our funders has created a lasting legacy that will empower young people for years to come.

From everyone at Empire Fighting Chance, thank you. This build will make a real and lasting difference, giving young people the tools, confidence, and spaces they need to thrive.

“The Annex represents so much more than a new building, it’s a symbol of how far Empire Fighting Chance has come and what we can achieve together. For years, our team worked tirelessly from a small portacabin, and now we have a home that truly reflects our ambition and the young people we serve.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we’ve been able to create spaces that will inspire, empower, and change lives for generations to come. The Annex not only gives us room to grow, it provides dedicated areas for careers support, a new boxing gym, and a communal kitchen, whilst also enabling us to welcome community partners who can deliver complementary services.

By bringing like-minded organisations under one roof, we’re creating a hub where the community can come together, share expertise, and lift each other up. This collaborative environment means we can reach more young people, deepen our impact, and ensure they have access to a wider network of opportunities, care, and support.”

— Martin Bisp, CEO, Empire Fighting Chance