Sonny Marshall, Lori West and Leo Goodman outside the propos

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Rumble Bee Fight Back Club began with Sonny Marshall and Leo Goodman—two young friends who believe that fear, bullying and financial hardship should never prevent somebody from becoming stronger.

Their ambition is to create a free or affordable community gym in Andover for people who are bullied, frightened, priced out or simply need somewhere safe to rebuild their confidence.

A place for boxing, martial arts, fitness, healthy living, meditation and mentoring.

A place where frightened people can become strong without becoming cruel.

We train to protect, not to bully.

Young Founder

Sonny has experienced bullying from childhood and understands what it can take away from a young person.

Martial arts helped him rebuild his confidence, maintain his happiness and stop living in fear. Instead of becoming bitter, Sonny developed empathy—even for some of the young people who bullied him.

For years, Sonny spoke about creating a gym that would help other people fight back against fear. When nobody took the idea seriously, he saved his own pocket money and paid a web designer to help him begin building the Rumble Bee website.

Rumble Bee exists because Sonny refused to let the idea disappear.

Proposed Founding CEO and Initial Director

When Lori saw what Sonny had created, she understood that his idea needed responsible adult leadership and practical support.

Lori is helping Sonny and Leo attend meetings, speak to community leaders and turn their vision into a safe, properly governed and sustainable organisation.

Subject to completion of the incorporation process, Lori will become Rumble Bee’s founding CEO and initial director. She will carry the initial legal and organisational responsibility while protecting the voices and founding vision of Sonny and Leo.

Her role is not to take Rumble Bee away from its young founders.

Her role is to help them build it properly.

Young Founder

Leo stands alongside Sonny as a young founder of Rumble Bee Fight Back Club.

He brings friendship, loyalty, energy and a shared belief that strength should be used responsibly. Together, Sonny and Leo want to create a gym where character matters more than wealth, background, appearance or status.

They want members to develop confidence without arrogance, discipline without cruelty and strength without becoming bullies themselves.

Rumble Bee Fight Back Club is now being established as a Community Interest Company limited by guarantee.

Its Articles of Association have been prepared using the official model issued by the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies.

The proposed CIC will exist for community benefit rather than private gain. Its purposes include:

• providing free or affordable martial arts, boxing, fitness and exercise;
• supporting people affected by bullying, fear, poverty, exclusion or disadvantage;
• developing confidence, resilience, self-discipline and personal safety;
• promoting healthy living, meditation, mentoring and mental wellbeing;
• helping people who have bullied or harmed others develop empathy, self-control and positive alternatives to violence;
• working with families, schools, sports clubs, charities, public bodies and community organisations; and
• securing and operating safe community facilities for these activities.

Sonny and Leo will remain Rumble Bee’s young founders and the heart of its mission. They will not become company officers during the initial stage.

The building behind the team is the proposed future home of Rumble Bee Fight Back Club.

Rumble Bee does not yet own or occupy the building. The team hopes to work with Test Valley Borough Council and the wider Andover community to bring this unused local building back into meaningful community use.

The vision is to transform it into a safe and welcoming place where people can train, rebuild their confidence, find support and belong.

The founding leadership is taking shape, but Rumble Bee cannot be built by three people alone.

We would like to hear from people who can offer experience in:

• safeguarding and youth services;
• martial arts, boxing and fitness coaching;
• mental health and wellbeing;
• business planning and CIC governance;
• fundraising, grants and sponsorship;
• building design, refurbishment and facilities management;
• healthy eating and nutrition;
• education and mentoring;
• publicity, photography and communications; or
• community volunteering.

Nobody will be expected to do everything.

We are looking for good people who believe in the mission, respect its young founders and want to help build something safe, honest and lasting.

You do not need to arrive with every answer.

You do need to believe that poverty should never prevent somebody from becoming healthier, safer and stronger.

Tell us about your experience, why Rumble Bee matters to you and how you believe you could help.

HELP BUILD RUMBLE BEE

We train to protect, not to bully.

 AS FEATURED IN THE ANDOVER ADVERTISER

Read how Sonny and Leo are turning their experiences of bullying into plans for an inclusive Andover gym where young people can build confidence, make friends and feel supported.

READ OUR ANDOVER ADVERTISER STORY