A Bristol Brazilian Jiu Jitsu association operating two clubs in the city has received £390,000 from impact investor BBRC (Bristol & Bath Regional Capital) to expand its community-focussed operations.
Roger Gracie Bristol already generates social impact with initiatives that bring people in personal crisis ‘onto the mats’ through interventions, programmes and concessionary rates for struggling and vulnerable people. 
Since its launch in 2017 by brothers Luke and Clayton Chamberlain using the approach developed by 10-times world champion Roger Gracie, it has supported more than 30 vulnerable women, 38 ex-military and 35 Avon & Somerset police officers with self-defence skills.
It has also provided 18 child scholarships for families struggling with costs, and a crisis management rehabilitation program for children with ongoing issues of parental drug addiction, neglect and abuse, while employing seven members of the local community.
Now with financial support from BBRC’s City Funds scheme, it hopes to more than double its membership to 2,000-plus by opening three further clubs in South Bristol, West Bristol and Central Bristol in October, January and April. 
Luke Chamberlain, a first-degree black belt under Roger Gracie who grew up in the Southmead area and has been training since 2009, said: “Our mission at Roger Gracie Bristol is to empower over 2,000 members of the Bristol community with Jiu-Jitsu as a way to find focus and support, as well as experience an inclusive and safe space to build friendships, and in turn improve mental health and well-being for individuals and their wider families.”
He said the new clubs would not only aimed to provide world-class Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tuition and training to many more people but also expand on the organisation’s all-inclusive ‘no judgment’ ethos to provide all-round health and wellbeing benefits.
Roger Gracie Bristol is the latest organisation to benefit from BBRC’s £10m City Funds scheme, which is supported by West of England community foundation Quartet and Bristol City Council.
It has invested £800,000 in Bristol-based ‘disruptive educator’ boomsatsuma, which runs six training centres across the city, and £55,000 in Bristol alternative learning provider Urban Pursuit to open a new operating base and meet a growing demand from Bristol schools.
BBRC investment director Jari Moate said: “Roger Gracie Bristol as an organisation is perfectly aligned with our values at BBRC. We look for impact-driven businesses that offer real support and value for local communities.
“RGB provides an incredible community hub that is delivering significant impact for local people and will be able to double its efforts as a result of this investment. It’s great to hear the stories of the people that have benefitted from its training sessions.”
BBRC is the West of England’s first home-grown, place-based impact investor and is focused on unlocking funding and support for purposeful businesses, charities, housing and social enterprise.
Its place-making approach means that investment is channelled into the region’s economy, bringing social, economic and environmental benefits, which it believes creates a healthier and more resilient local economy.
