Yesterday, (Thursday 29th January) we were delighted to come together to celebrate a very special milestone: 10 years of The Beach Wellness Gym in Minehead! The morning was filled with warmth, shared stories and a real sense of pride as we marked a decade of supporting health, wellbeing and connection within the local community.
A Decade in the Making: We opened in 2016 in partnership with the YMCA at The Beach Hotel, The Beach Wellness was created with a clear mission: to inspire and support people of all ages and abilities to enjoy physical activity, improve their health and wellbeing, and feel confident in a friendly, inclusive environment. Over the past decade, that mission has grown into something truly special and we couldn't be more proud of what has been achieved and the community that has been built in the heart of Minehead.
From the very beginning, The Beach Wellness Gym has stood out as much more than 'just a gym'. It was designed to be a place where people whether returning to activity after illness, living with long-term health conditions, or simply looking to improve fitness could feel welcomed, supported, and encouraged every step of the way. Today, that ethos continues to be at the heart of everything we do.
Over the years, The Beach Wellness has become a trusted community asset, offering safe, inclusive exercise opportunities, health-focused fitness classes, and the ProActive Physical Activity on Referral service, which provides supervised exercise support through GP referrals. These programmes have helped countless people build confidence, increase mobility, and improve wellbeing in a way that truly makes a difference.
Stories That Matter: Throughout yesterday's celebration, participants shared stories and reflections that captured the true impact of The Beach Wellness Gym.
One participant, Anita, shared:
"The team here are fabulous. They are so helpful and so nice. I've been here from the start after my local gym closed, and they are just a very friendly gym."
Another individual spoke powerfully about how our work, and The Beach Wellness Gym are the reason he is here today. He shared how being part of this community has helped him become happier, healthier and supported, describing it as a place that has had his back every step of the way.
During the morning, we also had our usual gym session running at the same time as the celebration, allowing us to see everything in action and witness first-hand the welcoming, supportive environment that defines The Beach Wellness Gym.
Ten Years of Impact: Over the last 10 years, The Beach Wellness Gym has achieved some truly remarkable outcomes:
- 36,000 open gym hours offered
- More than 4,500 general timetable and specialist classes delivered, including Zumba, Pilates, Yoga, NeuroActive sessions for Parkinson's, Chair Circuits and Low-Impact options
- Over 2,500 NHS patient referrals, including high-risk patients and individuals with multiple comorbidities such as cardiac history, diabetes, cancer, stroke, musculoskeletal and mental health conditions
- Almost 2,000 supported group gym sessions delivered for NHS referrals, supporting over 19,000 patient attendances, with an average of 12 sessions per person
- Around 70% of referred patients retained as gym and/or class members following completion of their NHS referral
Behind every statistic is a person, and many lives have been changed for the better here in Somerset.
Previous feedback gathered over the years reflects this impact clearly. Michelle shared:
"I've had huge improvements in my mental health, my blood pressure and weight. My confidence has grown too. These (gym sessions) have kick-started me to be more active. Without it, I'd probably not have started due to low confidence and capability."
Andrew described his experience as life-changing:
"It sounds dramatic, but this gym has genuinely been life-changing...I can't thank you enough, for the brilliant gym programme you gave me, which was pitched at just the right level, and all the support in the gym on Saturday afternoons. I trust you, you both really know your stuff. I've turned my life around in the last 3 months and you were what started it. Now I'm walking Parkrun on Saturday mornings, I'm eating better, I've lost weight, my headspace is so much better. I can help the kids that I work with better. I was a mess before. I can't describe how much this has helped me. Thank you."
We were thrilled to celebrate this milestone with so many of the people who have helped shape, build and create a lasting legacy for the Minehead community. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday, and to all those who have been part of our journey over the past decade, we truly wouldn't be where we are without your support. It was wonderful chatting with colleagues, valued partners and the many incredible participants who have been part of The Beach Wellness Gym story over the years.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us to mark the occasion, including:
- Diane and Richard Newton from the Minehead Community Defib Group, who generously donated our defibrillator
- Kerry Westcott, West Somerset PCN Manager
- Our dedicated Health and Wellbeing Coaches
- Aden Watkins, Senior Health Coach for West Somerset
- Peter and Felicity, a couple of our fantastic instructors
- and of course, our incredible participants, who are at the heart of everything we do
Pictured above: Laura Browne, Helen Wilkes, Luisa Skinner (The Beach Hotel Fitness Suite GP Referral Team), Aden Watkins (Senior Health Coach for West Somerset); Diane and Richard Newton (Minehead Community Defib Group); Kerry Westcott (West Somerset PCN Manager); Beach Wellness Gym instructors Peter and Felicity; Health and Wellbeing Coaches; and participants celebrating 10 years of The Beach Wellness Gym in Minehead.