For residents of Knoydart, healthcare provision is the other end of a boat ride away. We need to bring the physical and mental benefits of strength training closer to home.
Estimated Price
15000
What are we doing?
We are establishing a community-run, not-profit gym in Inverie, Knoydart. The gym will be accessible 7 days a week for a low cost to residents, and will include the option to engage in structured workouts to build a motivational fitness community. The gym will be located in a disused office, which will keep the overall project cost to a minimum. The funding will purchase: 1. gym equipment and pay for a shopfit to the space, 2. insurance, accountancy and utilities, 3.enable two residents to become qualified personal trainers, 4. enable a local artist to design a logo and pay for marketing material and signage.
Why is the project important?
85% of surveyed residents want a gym.
The barrier to addressing physical and mental health needs for residents in Knoydart is significant. All healthcare provision - GPs, physios, leisure centres, mental health services - are a boat ride away and the boats are subject to weather conditions. Residents would need to take a half or full day off work to go to the gym, and to attend appointments. A gym in Knoydart, with qualified personal trainers to encourage and mobilise the population, will enable us to bring the wide ranging physical and mental health benefits of strength training to our doorstep and enable our community to remain resilient.
In terms of the Lochaber Area Plan,the community gym in Knoydart meets many of its criteria relating to People - Activities and Access to services.
"Improving access to services across Lochaber is essential to fostering resilient, healthy and inclusive communities. This plan prioritises the well-being of all residents... providing opportunities for recreation, culture, and social engagement that meet the needs and interests of all residents"
Specifically, this project meets the following:
Retain and enhance health services in rural areas
Enhance patient transport options to improve access to health services (by removing the need for transport!)
Strengthen support for local third sector organisations, community groups and clubs providing services within the communities
Increase dedicated programs to support physical and mental health
This plan focuses on improving access to education, training and employment while addressing the unique challenges faced by rural communities (by training two residents to become personal trainers)
Provide community spaces for social engagement and drop-in’s for all ages
Ensure activities, events, and spaces are provided in suitable locations with appropriate transport options and have support to be sustainable.
What positive impact will the project have?
52% of surveyed residents are worried about the ageing process and loss of muscle mass and mobility. Moreover, over 40% are carrying long term injuries. Research shows that training 2-3 times per week builds muscle mass, improves balance/mobility, increases bone density, and can reverse physical frailty in adults, including those in their 80s and 90s.
We anticipate that members of the gym will be able to rehabilitate from injury, prevent injury, feel better in themselves physically and mentally, have a social space outside of the pub which will decrease alcohol consumption and decrease pressures to be in the pub in order to be sociable.
What outcomes will we expect?
We expect over 30 residents to become members in our first year
We expect 2 residents to gain PT qualifications within 1 year.
We will monitor improvements to people's: mental health, level of injury, feeling of strength and physical health, and improvements to isolation/ loneliness
based on a baseline survey and 6-monthly surveys.
We expect the business to be sustainable (only requiring £2.8k to run a year which is easily met by membership fees),and surplus generated to continue funding access to fitness opportunities in Inverie.
What milestones have we achieved so far?
Huge communtiy buy in from a detailed surveyin October 2025
Support from Knoydart Foundation to proceed and granted access to a building suitable for conversion to a gym
Constitution of Knoydart Community Gym CIC and recruitment of directors
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