Local 'legend' mentors young people at boxing gym

A man who says sport kept him "out of trouble" is mentoring young people at a boxing club in order to "give back" to his community.

Described by the club as a "local legend", Lloyd Russell has been part of the Empire Fighting gym in Bristol since the 1960s.

He was recently named as the first community ambassador for the gym's charity, which was founded in 2013 and has been credited with saving young people's lives.

"I wanted to give back to the younger people and I've done that for the last 30-odd years," Mr Russell said.

Charity Empire Fighting Chance was built on the boxing club's long history and in more recent years has been heavily involved in working with disadvantaged young people, as well as tackling youth violence.

Mr Russell (centre) has been a member of Empire since 1969

Mr Russell's parents were part of the Windrush Migration from Jamaica in the 1950s and he was born in Bristol in 1956, living in St. Pauls.

In 1968, the Bristol and District Amateur Boxing club was formed, which became the Empire Amateur Boxing Club in 1972, and was one of the first places in the city where people of different races came together to train.

Aged about 13, Mr Russell started attending in 1969.

"The support was always there if you were going down the wrong path. I got involved in a few scraps, but I became more confident," Mr Russell said.

"Empire was my life, it made me who I am today, making many lifelong friends from all corners of the world with different nationalities and backgrounds.

"The wider community embraced the Empire as their home, families and generations of the same families went there."

Mr Russell was a Karate black belt who represented the UK on multiple occasions

In 2013 the club launched Empire Fighting Chance, and Mr Russell has been named its first community ambassador, after his work mentoring young people both in sports and in other areas of their lives.

"In my day, there weren't really many people who helped me when I was younger, you really had to sort out your own problems," he said.

"Empire was like a second home for a lot of us, we were all one family. There's not many places like this about in Bristol.

"I believe Fighting Chance is a Legacy of the Old Empire and what it stood for, and I believe I can help to continue the trend."

Serena Wiebe said without the gym she "wouldn't be alive"

One of the young people who has received support is 20-year-old Serena Wiebe.

She has trained at the gym since she was 16-years-old, and is now one of their coaches.

She said the charity "changed and saved" her life.

"I never had anything like this in my life that's been consistent and provided me enough support," Ms Wiebe said.

Ms Wiebe said she was badly impacted after her older brother took his own life, adding that she has been losing friends to violence since she was 17-years-old, including Eddie King Muthemba Kinuthia.

"Empire saved me from what I could have been, by showing me the potential I have," she said.

"It's not just a boxing gym. You get a sense of community, it's like a big family."

Mr Russell says the charity hopes to continue its role tackling youth violence and knife crime.

"Empire can play a massive and lead role as it is an iconic name that all the communities know," he said.

"My advice to young people is don’t be a follower, be your own person, be a positive leader and role model."