Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews joined boxing legend Rendall Munroe and civic leaders at the grand opening of a new community gym and wellbeing centre.
The Health Hub has been developed by Eyres Monsell Club for Young People (EMCYP) thanks to funding from Sports England and a host of local partners including the PCC, the NHS' Getting Help in Neighbourhoods Fund, Leicester City Mayors Fund and Leicester City Council.
Based within EMCYP's youth centre, it aims to improve the physical health and mental wellbeing of local residents as well as bring the community closer together.
Among the new facilities is a fully-equipped community gym opening seven days a week (50 weeks of the year), wellbeing classes, workshops and a new art hub available for all residents. It will also offer a personal trainer, gym instructors, mental health first aiders and a counsellor to help support those who use the services.
Former two-time European champion and WBA international champion boxer Rendall Munroe, who lives in Leicester, officially opened the facility at a community event attended by Mr Matthews, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Rosemary Conley CBE, Lord Mayor of Leicester, Cllr George Cole and City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby.
Mr Matthews said: "This is a fantastic new resource for Eyres Monsell providing local people with a dedicated space to socialise, keep fit and promote good mental health.
"I know how hard the team at EMCYP has worked to get this project off the ground, including the huge fundraising task that comes with any major initiative of this kind. It is rewarding to see the fruition of those efforts.
"As Commissioner, I am working hard to build resilience in our communities to help people manage their lives and cope better with any challenges they face. This facility will make a big difference and my congratulations go to everyone involved."
Centre Manager, Louise Wylie BEM, said: This is a really exciting project for us. It has been a long time in the making and we are thrilled that very soon we will be able to open to the public and welcome the local community in.
"Our gym will be open to the public from October 31st. Providing a health hub for local people to help them become both emotionally and physically healthy and for our centre to become a pinnacle of wellbeing in Eyres Monsell."
Community Development Coordinator, Keanan Bartram, added: "The Health Hub is going to be a real asset in the local community, offering both physical and emotional support to local residents, alongside a community gym space. With mental health rates rising and more people being affected, especially young people, we feel that projects like this are needed now more than ever before."
The gym will be offering memberships from the end of the month at affordable prices.
EMCYP, which received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service last year, has supported the community in Eyres Monsell for more than 60 years and has received funding from the Commissioner's office for a range of projects.
The charity secured more than £250,000 to deliver the Health Hub and are in the process of recruiting a part-time gym instructor for weekend duties and personal trainers looking for affordable gym space to rent.
