Gym offers free path to fitness
A Sunderland gym is helping people hit hard by the pandemic to get back to fitness for free.
Fitness 2000 in Roker has suspended monthly membership fees for its existing memberswho have lost their jobs or are struggling financially due to the COVID-19 crisis while they get back on their feet.
Unlike most chain gyms, the independently-owned business in Roker Avenue doesn’t tie people into contracts and instead members pay a monthly fee of £20.
Owner Les Ojugbana said: “I know how much not being able to go to the gym has affected people’s mental health and although £20 doesn’ t seem like much, if you’ ve lost your job and don’t have £20 then it is a lot of money.
“We’ll review it on a month by month basis as people’ s situations change .”
It’s not the first time the gym has supported people struggling with mental health. Veterans who receive support from the city’s Veterans in Crisis charity already get free lifetime memberships.
The gym itself has had no income for four months, with its six staff furloughed and the ten self-employed PTsw house its facilities unable to hold sessions indoors.
Les says the small business grant, as well as the loyalty of members, has helped however.
"The small business grant helped sustain the business through lockdown,” he explained. “Because we have no contracts, a lot of people cancelled their monthly direct direct, which is completely understandable, but I’d really like to thank all the members who paid regardless to show their support.
"This isn’t just a gym for a lot of people, it’s a really sociable place too and people have really missed it. I’m confident that as a business we can pick ourselves up from this in two / three weeks.”
Les said: “I think people are confident about returning to gyms because it’s a controlled environment. 99 per cent of people are raring to go and get back to their fitness routine.”
While the weights equipment and punch bags are already well spaced, the cardio equipment, such as treadmills and bikes, have been cordoned off so that only every other machine can be used. There are separate entry and exit doors, hand sanitisation stations and cleaning equipment to wipe down weights and machines.
Gym-goers need to arrive in their workout clothing and cannot use the showers.