Community Work

SPECIAL PROJECTS

As a CIC, our profits go straight back into the gym and projects that get our town moving.

At The Hangar, we do more than run gym classes.

Some projects start with fitness. Some start with food, mentoring, fundraising, youth work, confidence-building or just a good idea that refuses to go away. But underneath them all is the same thing: people need places where they feel welcome, useful, supported and part of something.

These are some of the projects we have built with our members, partners, young people, families and local community.

Some are big. Some are small. Some are loud and sweaty. Some are quiet and life-changing in ways you do not always see straight away.

That feels about right for us.

Project 01

Pier to Pier Challenge

A community challenge between Weston Grand Pier and Clevedon Pier.
Raises money for IVF support and Hangar community projects (£3k last year and hoping to smash that in 2026).
Brought members, families, friends and local partners together.

The Pier to Pier Challenge was one of those ideas that sounded simple and then turned into something much bigger. Walk, run, support, donate, cheer people on, eat fish and chips at the end. Perfect. The route connected two brilliant local landmarks and brought people together for causes that mattered. It had tired legs, good laughs, emotional moments and the kind of community feeling you cannot really fake.

Project 02

Youth Justice Mentoring

One-to-one and small-group support for young people linked with the Youth Justice and Prevention Service.
Uses gym sessions, conversation and trusted relationships to help young people move forward.
Built around consistency, confidence and being treated like a human being.

Some young people do not need another meeting room, another lecture or another adult telling them what they have done wrong. Sometimes they need a place where they can show up, move, talk when they are ready and build trust over time. Our mentoring work with young people through the Youth Justice and Prevention Service uses the gym as that place. It is practical, honest and relationship-led. The gym session might be the reason they walk through the door, but the real work often happens in the conversations around it.

Project 03

Over 55s

Friendly fitness sessions for older adults.
Focused on strength, mobility, confidence and staying active.
Just as much about connection as it is about exercise.

The Over 55s sessions are a big part of what makes The Hangar feel like The Hangar. They are about staying strong, moving well and feeling confident, but they are also about having a laugh, seeing familiar faces and being part of something. You do not need to be a “gym person”. You do not need the latest trainers. You just need to come in, have a go and maybe surprise yourself a bit.

Project 04

The Hangar Hangout

A Thursday youth session at The Hangar.
A place for young people to move, chat, eat, play and feel welcome.
Built around trust, consistency and having somewhere positive to go.

The Hangar Hangout is our Thursday space for young people who might benefit from a bit of extra support, connection or just somewhere good to be. It is not a formal, awkward “youth intervention” kind of thing. It is much more human than that. Young people come in, get moving, have some food, play games, talk to trusted adults and slowly become part of the place. Some weeks it is fitness. Some weeks it is snacks, table tennis and a chat. Usually, it is a bit of everything.

Project 05

HAF Holiday Programme

Holiday activities for children receiving free school meals.
A mix of gym sessions, food, games and hands-on construction work.
Delivered with brilliant partners like Howe Design & Build.

Our HAF holiday programme gives children a proper place to be during the school holidays. They get food, movement, structure and a chance to try things they might not normally get to do. One of our favourite versions of this project included construction work with Howe Design & Build, where young people got stuck into practical tasks as well as gym sessions. It was active, useful, creative and a lot more memorable than just keeping children busy for a few hours.

Project 06

Young Girls Strength Club

A supportive project for girls from Hans Price Academy.
Created for young people who were not really enjoying PE at school.
Helps girls build confidence with movement in a completely different environment.

Not everyone falls in love with sport through school PE. For some young girls, it can feel exposing, uncomfortable or just not made for them. This project gave girls from Hans Price Academy a different route into movement. No whistles. No pressure to be “sporty”. No feeling like you have to already be good at something. Just a friendly gym, supportive coaches and the chance to realise that being active can feel good when the environment is right.

Project 07

Women’s Strength & Wellbeing Group

Small-group training for women rebuilding confidence after difficult or unsafe home situations.
A calm, private and supportive space to move, connect and feel stronger.
Focused on confidence, safety, trust and taking things at the right pace.

This project is about helping women feel a little more like themselves again. Not through shouty fitness, before-and-after photos or “new year, new you” nonsense. Just a safe, kind and supportive space where women can move, build strength, connect with others and take things one step at a time. For some people, walking into a gym is a big deal. We do not take that lightly. This group is about strength in the fullest sense of the word.

Project 08

Pupil Referral Unit Partnership

A partnership with a local pupil referral unit.
Gives young people access to the gym as part of their wider support and learning.
Offers a different environment where young people can move, reset and engage.

We work with a local pupil referral unit who use The Hangar as part of their provision for young people. For some young people, a gym can offer something a classroom cannot. Space to move. A chance to reset. A different type of success. A way to build trust without everything feeling too formal. It gives staff another tool to support their young people, and it gives the young people a positive place to spend time.

Project 09

Defib Day

A community day to raise money for a defibrillator.
Turned a serious safety need into a positive local event.
Helped make The Hangar and the surrounding area safer.

Defib Day came from a simple thought: if something went wrong, would we be ready? Rather than just hoping for the best, the community came together to help raise money for a defibrillator. It was practical, positive and very Hangar. Serious purpose, but done with energy, people and a bit of fun. The result is something that could genuinely save a life.

Project 10

The Hangar Games

Our big in-house fitness competition.
Teams, workouts, cheering, nerves, noise and a lot of support.
A celebration of effort, community and the people who make the gym what it is.

The Hangar Games is less about finding the fittest person in the room and more about getting everyone involved in something brilliant. Yes, there are workouts. Yes, people get nervous. Yes, someone usually regrets how hard they went in the first event. But mostly, it is about the atmosphere. Teams cheering each other on, members stepping outside their comfort zones and the whole gym feeling alive. It is The Hangar at full volume.

Project 11

First Time Fitness

A gentle way into the gym for people who feel nervous or out of practice.
Designed for people who may not currently feel confident in fitness spaces.
Focused on small wins, good coaching and not making anyone feel silly.

First Time Fitness is for people who know they probably need to move more, but find the whole gym thing a bit much. We get it. Walking into a gym can feel intimidating if you have been out of the loop for a while. This project keeps things simple, friendly and low-pressure. No egos. No nonsense. Just a group of people taking a first step together.

Project 12

Couch to 5K

A beginner running programme based on the NHS Couch to 5K structure.
Helps people build from no running experience towards 30 minutes of continuous running.
Led by friendly coaches and supported by the wider group.

Our Couch to 5K programme is for people who do not currently see themselves as runners. Which, to be honest, is most runners before they start. The aim is simple: build up gradually, support each other and get to the point where running for 30 minutes feels possible. It is not about pace, fancy kit or pretending to love every second. It is about starting, sticking with it and realising your body can do more than you thought.

Got an idea for a project, or want to get involved? Drop us a line.