Founders

1. Martin Bisp

   Martin has coached at the Empire ABC for the past 12 years and has worked as a business analyst for over 20 years. Martin is also the secretary for the Empire amateur boxing club and spends his spare time co-ordinating contests for his boxers all over the country.

2. Jamie Sanigar

   Jamie was baptised in boxing through his father Chris and has remained heavily involved for the last 16 years. He currently manages three businesses; Bristol Boxing Gym, a clothing brand in USA and UK and managing/promoting professional boxers.

   Martin and Jamie founded Fighting Chance because they passionately believe sport can inspire and change lives. They wanted to devise programmes that concentrated on developing everyone to reach their full potential and not be restricted by societal perceptions or a lack of aspiration.

   They want everyone to be able to achieve their dreams, whether that dream is to become a world champion, a lawyer or builder. They want everyone to have a Fighting Chance.

Senior Project Team

1. Jamie Parry – Project manager

   Jamie graduated from university in 2011 before his love of boxing brought him over from Wales to join the Bristol boxing gym. From then on his passion for the sport was infectious and has become a key member of the team. Jamie a self-confessed “boxing nut” manages our day to day operations of the programmes and coaching.

2. Harvey Hemsley – Coach

   An Active professional boxer from Yate near Bristol, Harvey served five years in the Royal Engineers regiment of the army which included a tour of Afghanistan. He is also a Level 3 qualified personal trainer. Harvey is now a passionate member of the team and uses all of his experience to motivate and inspire the young people on our programmes.

3. Ashley Lane – Coach

   Ashley first entered the boxing gym at the age of 15 after being bullied in school. Boxing changed Ashley’s life as he fell in love with the sport competing as an amateur all over the UK. Ashley is now an active professional boxer based at the Empire and delivers coaching and mentoring sessions for our projects.

4. Justin Williams – Coach

   Justin was inspired to start boxing at the Empire in 2012 after seeing a friend post a video on social media. From then on he began to train on a daily basis at the gym and eventually boxing as an amateur for Empire ABC. Justin volunteered to help out with some of the junior classes and from that he became employed by EFC as a coach and mentor for our young people.

5. Catherine Bisp – Monitoring and Evaluation

   Catherine is qualified in statistical analysis and currently manages the Monitoring Evaluation and Company Administration functions for Empire Fighting Chance. Prior to that she worked as a manager in a Pensions Company for over 10 years.

6. Tiana Troup – Mentor

   Tiana volunteered to mentor with Empire Fighting Chance following time spent at a company called NextStep. Tiana says that she “hopes to meet some great people and hopefully be able to make a difference to someone’s life no matter how small.”

7. Helen Jenkins – Volunteer and Fundraiser

   Helen’s background is primarily in music promotion as former online PR Officer for numerous bands including Muse, James Blunt, The Corrs and many more. Leaving to raise family in 2006, Helen became involved in Empire Fighting Chance via her son Ewan, who first stepped into the Club in 2009. Helen now sits on the fund-raising committee and is looking forward to playing a part in numerous forthcoming events.