A Cotswolds-based fitness founder has been awarded an £18,000 grant to grow his online community, helping more people stay active and connected from the comfort of their own homes.
James Hilton, founder of Jim’s Gym, has received a Scaling Up Award from the Millennium Awards Trust, funded by the National Lottery, in recognition of the impact his platform is already having and its potential to reach even more people.
Jim’s Gym is an online fitness community designed for people aged 55 and over, offering live and on-demand classes that can be done at home, alongside a supportive network of members.
James said receiving the award feels like a significant milestone. “Starting and running a business is challenging, so to receive this kind of support adds a huge amount of validation to all the hard work that’s gone into building Jim’s Gym so far,” he said.
“It also reinforces the mission behind it, which is to help as many people as possible reap the benefits of being more active in later life – easily and all from home.”
The funding will be used to expand the platform’s reach and build on the range of classes already available, which includes more than 15 live sessions each week, tailored to adults over 55. James said it would also support new partnerships aimed at reaching older adults in different settings.
“We’re looking to reach a much wider audience and add even more value for our existing members by expanding the variety of sessions we offer,” he said.
“We’re also developing partnerships with retirement villages and integrated retirement communities, offering residents access to Jim’s Gym as part of their wellbeing provision. It’s a simple, plug-and-play solution that doesn’t require a lot of organisation from the village itself but can make a real difference to people’s activity levels and sense of community.”
The idea for Jim’s Gym came from recognising that many people want to stay active but don’t feel comfortable in traditional gym environments.
“Jim’s Gym was built for people who want to get fitter but aren’t inclined to join a traditional gym, whether that’s because of cost, travel or simply feeling out of place,” James said.
“It gives people access to everything you’d expect from a gym or leisure centre, but from home, and as part of a really supportive community.”
Membership costs £12.99 per month, giving access to a wide range of classes including strength and balance training, Tai Chi, Pilates, yoga and dance-based sessions, all designed to help people aged 55 and over stay active, steady and independent.
In its first year, Jim’s Gym generated an estimated £1 million in social value, a figure James believes can grow significantly with the support of the award.
“This funding gives us the opportunity to build on what we’ve already created and take it to the next level,” he said.
The Millennium Awards Trust supports social entrepreneurs across the UK who are tackling social challenges and building ventures that create positive change, offering both funding and ongoing mentoring and development support.
For more information about Jim’s Gym, visit www.jimsgym.fitness
Article from Scott Media
