Town's teenagers to get free gym sessions

The gym in a marquee at Arundel Lido will open for 13 to 17 year olds on Wednesdays

Teenagers in a West Sussex town will be able to attend free sessions at a gym once a week.

The council-funded Youth Gym, aimed at 14 to 17 year olds, is launched in a marquee at Arundel Lido on Wednesday.

It will include a "varied exercise programme covering weight training, circuits and other fitness as well as providing time to socialise", an Arundel Town Council spokesperson said.

Hannah Clubb, a local resident who came up with the idea, said the town did not have "a wealth of activities available for teenagers, particularly if you haven't got loads of cash to spare".

She told BBC Radio Sussex: "When I spoke to teenagers they told me they wanted somewhere to get fit and hang out with their friends in a safe place without having to spend money.

"If we can show our young people we are listening and are invested in them it might make all the difference."

Tony Hunt, Arundel's mayor, said: "Our young people are our biggest asset.

"This idea gives young people what they have asked for, access to fitness, in a place where they can socialise and be safe."

The Youth Gym will run on Wednesday evenings from 17:00 to 18:30.

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