Black Country fitness club facing closure in funding crisis
It has helped more than 200 members but now a popular fitness club for children and teenagers in the Black Country could be forced to shut its doors within weeks because of a lack of funding.
Tipton Fit Club, which encourages youngsters to lead healthier lifestyles, is based at the town's fire station on Alexandra Road and has been running for five years.
But now the project is facing an uncertain future after running out of cash for sports activities.
It has exhausted its funding from the Birmingham and Black Country Community Foundation and an emergency three-month 'top up' from West Midlands Fire Service runs out at the end of June.
The club needs at least £8,000 to cover its costs for a year and officials are now appealing for help to secure funding to enable activities to continue and support its longer-term development.
The project's coordinator Sean Stewart, a crew commander with Tipton Blue Watch, said: "The future's looking really bleak.
"The club's gone from strength to strength. It's given a focus on fitness and healthy living to dozens of local children and teenagers, but when the money runs out we will have to close.
"We're proud of what we've achieved through the club, and hate to think that other young people in the local area might miss out. It brings people into the fire station and gives them a chance to get to know us and make friends.
"Many of the young people that have attended have been able to reduce their weight and avoid obesity. We've seen their confidence increase and their concentration and discipline improve. In many cases parents have told us that their children's attendance and performance at school have also benefited.
"For some members it's been the start of a lasting interest in sport and fitness. Two brothers, for example, went on to take up martial arts and one of them recently won a junior championship."
Aimed at four to 19-year-olds, the club offers weekly sessions and activities including kick boxing, boxing, circuit training, volleyball and badminton. The fire station's engine house accommodates the club's gym. A secure 'pod' on the site, with disabled access, provides a base for other activities.
Mr Stewart said: "For many members, coming to Fit Club is the only regular exercise they get.
"We're hoping that someone will realise what's at stake and give us the help we need to stay open. If not, we're going to have to disappoint a lot of local youngsters and turn them away."
Anyone who is interested in giving the club financial support, or in joining, can contact Sean on 07950 688 715 or by e-mail: sean.stewart@wmfs.net
