Gym for young people helps turn lives around

The gym was founded by Hagen Biggin earlier this year

Youth organisations say a new gym which has been set up for young people in Stoke-on-Trent is helping turn lives around.

Gather Community Club, based in Longton, was set up by Hagen Biggin about three months ago to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

Young people in the city were crying out for something positive to do, he said, adding that more than 100 people were attending.

The club’s aim is to provide a safe space and help young people make positive choices.

“It's to try and help the families who need support, it's to try and help the young people that are kind of off the path, who need to get back on the path, who need a little bit of help to find it again,” said Mr Biggen.

Athen, 15, said attending the gym helped change his life

Athen, who has social anxiety, said attending the gym has been life-changing.

“I never really went out, on my game in my room all day really, not doing a lot, rotting away,” the 15-year-old said.

“I came here and got a lot more confident and feel like I can do a lot more.”

The club is currently working with other youth organisations across the city and also accepts referrals from youth offending services.

“Unfortunately we're coming across knife crime, we're coming across anti-social behaviour," said Mr Biggen.

Ben Gibson, of social enterprise IN2 Health and Wellbeing, said there was a lack of youth clubs and safe spaces in the area.

“It's a real kind of cold spot so having this facility in Longton and in Stoke-on-Trent as a whole, is only a positive really,” he said.