FITNESS
W L FITNESS
WE REFUSE TO CLOSE OUR GYMS ...
By Charlotte Forde
This year has seen many crazy things happen that will no doubt be remembered throughout our history . However for just over one week in October we saw the owners of independent gyms and fitness studios from the Liverpool City Region come together , leaving all egos and competitiveness aside to achieve one common goal - to take over the media and make a stand against the law that had been imposed against us to close our doors for an undisclosed period of time .
On Monday 12th October it was announced that the Liverpool City Region was the first city to be placed under the toughest lockdown restrictions in England after being put on a ‘ very high ’ alert level for the spread of Covid-19 . Little did the Government know that the owners of independent gyms and fitness studios in the area had already set up a group to discuss what action we would be taking in preparation of the anticipated announcement for the closure of gyms .
Each owner has not only committed to years of training but put their heart and soul into achieving their goal - owning a fitness facility . As with any business , we each have our individual strengths and unique selling points however we all share the same passion for the industry and desire to succeed . Yes , we are normally also very competitive but for the first time ever we joined forces and collectively saved our gyms .
At the beginning of our journey with so much media attention and involvement , our message was misconstrued and reverted back to us losing money from our businesses being closed , but our intentions and concerns were far greater than that of a monetary value .
During the initial lockdown in March , each gym and fitness studio respected and followed the government guidelines , and either diversified or remained closed until we were finally able to re-open on 25th July , many only just being able to open for business after relying on member support by continuing to pay for their memberships despite the closures . Being one of the final sectors to be given the green light didn ’ t really affect my business as I was still in the process of building my new boutique fitness studio , however it was reassuring for me to be able to plan my opening ensuring that everything was in place to enable a safe environment to train . After 11 weeks the majority of the UK gyms had reopened and the data showed that out of the 22 million gym visits , only 78 Covid cases were identified and there were only 0.35 Covid cases per 100,000 visits . However , despite gyms only showing 1.7 % of cases , it was decided that we would be one of the businesses that would be forced to close in a Tier 3 lockdown .
Having taken into consideration the lack of evidence as to why our gyms were targeted and the fact that we should remain open in order to support the fight against Covid , obesity , mental health and many other conditions and diseases to relieve the strain put onto the NHS , the Government ignored us and therefore we took action . Some gyms remained open ; resulting in fines , some supported through social media campaigns and some worked behind the scenes gathering information and contacting local authorities , MP ’ s and Chamber of Commerce . Regardless of what role we had to play , we were united as an entire community which soon led to a nation standing together with over 3200 followers , over £ 53,000 donated to the “ Save Liverpool Gyms ” GoFundMe page and over 382,000 signatures on a petition to prevent gyms from closing due to Covid . Whether you agree or disagree with the decisions that were made and the actions that were taken , there is no denying that what we achieved as an industry was phenomenal , but unfortunately the fight continues ... our end goal is that fitness facilities are made essential . It is proven that exercise provides mental and physical wellbeing , some may argue that it is not necessary to have a venue to participate in physical activity however accessibility and accountability are two of the main reasons why people do join a fitness establishment . The gym to most people is about “ lifting more than just weights ” it is a place to unwind after a busy day , somewhere to switch off and recharge , recover from illness or injury , somewhere to build confidence , meet new friends and socialise ; or for like many of the Liverpool City Region ’ s independent gym and fitness studio owners , it is a home from home that has been built up from nothing , where we spend the majority of our time trying to provide an income for our families while creating job opportunities for others in the community .
As an industry we are proud to have turned what was a negative experience into a positive outcome . We are now collaborating and supporting one another and have plans for the money raised from the GoFundMe page which will benefit the whole region . If you would like unbiased advice on supporting a local independent gym , please get in touch on 07523 843911 or train @ ellavatefitness . com where we will be happy to refer you to a suitable fitness provider based on your individual goals and circumstances . wirrallife . com 71