Residents visiting the Masbro Centre gym in Hammersmith can expect to get a little bit more out of their exercise routine after brand new workout equipment was unveiled last week.
The newly improved gym received the final touches to its upgrade in time for its official opening by Cllr Helen Binmore, Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council cabinet member for Children’s Services.
Cllr Binmore said:
“Compared with other councils, H&F has one of the largest voluntary sector budgets in the country and we greatly value the work these organisations do. It is no longer feasible, however, for voluntary organisations to rely on the council for all of their funding.
"With this upgrade, the gym is now a great little facility for all those who use the Masbro Centre, especially new mums and dads using the Children's Centre. It is a great example of an organisation bringing in additional funding to benefit the local community.
"The team at the Masbro Centre should be congratulated on this fantastic achievement. I’m sure that many people will enjoy using this lovely facility."
The centre, which comes under the umbrella of the Urban Partnership Group, a registered charity, receives its core funding from H&F Council and offers a variety of low cost services, courses and facilities for all ages and abilities. The gym upgrade was made possible courtesy of an £8,000 grant from the Clothworkers Company.
Max Wallace has been facilities manager at Masbro for eight years and was instrumental in obtaining the grant from the Clothworkers Company. When he first started at the centre, he applied for new gym equipment, but this year, he noticed the equipment was looking tired and run down.
As an ex-professional boxer and now a boxing and kickboxing instructor Max was keen to invest in machines that would give clients a whole body workout. He said: “With the money we received, we purchased two treadmills, two spin bikes, a power rack which is used for squats, two benches plus new flooring.”
Max said in between sending off for the grant, the centre was approached by a Community Service Volunteer (CSV), a volunteer organisation, who asked if there was any work the centre needed help with. Max said: “It was an amazing opportunity to get the gym painted and we were so happy when they said they could do it. They’ve done a fantastic job.”
Local resident and Alex Melving, 53, of Olympia has been a member of the gym for six months and said the new equipment was a 200% improvement on what was on offer previously.
He said:
“I feel more comfortable training as the equipment is much better. I look forward to coming along and working out. This morning when I woke up, I was exhausted but I still made my way down to the gym, I’m already seeing results.”
The gym is just one of a number of facilities at the community centre which also houses two multi-purpose rooms, two classrooms, an art room, pottery room, a five-a-side football pitch, crèche and a young people and children’s centre. There are also volunteering programmes to help older and disabled people in the community with things like shopping, reading and odd jobs. All are provided free or at an affordable cost to residents.
Andy Sharpe, Masbro centre chief executive said:
“We are absolutely delighted with the gym upgrade and we chose different types of equipment to make the gym attractive to mums and dads as well as young people. It is part of our health and fitness campaign to encourage families to think about getting healthy.”
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