A West Lothian gym owner is leading an industry campaign to get more government funding.
The Courier recently reported on independent gym owner Steve Marsden’s struggles to keep his company afloat during lockdown and now he is demanding the Scottish government listen.
Marsden has created The Scottish Health and Fitness Association (SFHA) and already the SHFA represents over 500 gyms, yoga studios, martial arts schools and pilates practitioners.
He explained: “Over 500 independent gyms, studios and wellness centres are fighting for their lives after losing millions in revenue while closed. 6000 owners, personal trainers, yoga instructors, dance teachers and gym instructors jobs are at risk and we need urgent financial support.
“As an industry, we want to keep people safe from a deadly virus - that is all of our main priority, but that is not mutually exclusive from ensuring our industry survives and can continue helping people’s physical and mental health.
“While we welcome the easing of outdoor restrictions and an indicative date, the industry needs financial support if they are to come out of the other side of this pandemic.
“On Monday, August 3 the SHFA will be launching the ‘Let’s Work(out) Together’ Campaign in which we are asking every health and fitness professional, every member, client and fitness enthusiast to write to their local MSP imploring for more sector specific funding to keep our industry alive. The SHFA are aiming for 100,000 emails and letters to be sent.
“These emails and letters will be focused positively on what our sector brings and means to people’s lives. We want to work with Nicola Sturgeon productively to ensure Scotland is kept safe from coronavirus but also has a thriving health and fitness industry for years to come. Thousands of jobs depend on it.”
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/stevemarsdenfitnessgym or https://www.facebook.com/scottishhealthandfitness
