MEMBERS at a Cheadle-based gym have thanked a Stoke-on-Trent law firm for helping them to make the most of their expanding facilities.
Hillside Community Gym has continued to flourish despite the Covid-19 crisis and a £500 donation from RJS Solicitors in Trentham has provided a further boost.
A new mezzanine floor has been built to increase the space available for socially-distanced classes, which previously had to take place outdoors during coronavirus restrictions.
And with winter now beginning to bite, club leader Andy Price is delighted the gym, at Draycott Cross Road, is fit to look after their members – and able to welcome more in the new year.
Andy said: “It was great of RJS to make such a generous donation. We are run by volunteers and sponsorship like this is very important to us.
“Our building is basically an industrial unit and the new floor means we have increased our indoor capacity to a maximum.
“Like all gyms, we always have an influx of new members in January when many people make a new year’s resolution to get fit.
“Being able to hold classes indoors is obviously essential during the winter and we are very pleased our facilities will now be able to cope with demand.”
The donation was the first of many to be made by RJS, who are setting up the RJS Foundation to award an initial £10,000 each year to community groups and other good causes.
Most payouts are likely to be in the region of £500 for each successful applicant, with the grants committee meeting in February, August and October.
Jack Brereton, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, and Rachel Kelsall, Stoke-on-Trent City Councillor for Trentham, will join RJS staff members on the foundation board.
Councillor Kelsall, who chairs the board, said: “The RJS foundation will deliver real benefits which will be even more poignant after such a difficult year in 2020.”
MP Brereton said: “RJS deserve huge credit for supporting our communities. It’s great to see a local business giving back to the area.”
Applications for the RJS Foundation grants are invited now and interested groups, which must be based in Staffordshire, should contact Georgia Mitchell – (01782) 646320 or Georgia@rjssolicitors.com – for further details.