More than just a place to work out, it has been serving the local area for over 50 years, offering both a fitness haven and a lifeline for those seeking purpose, discipline, and belonging.
With a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, including owner Kaylan and full-time employees Michelle Jackson and Kye Trott, Thamesmead Gym is a place where health and personal transformation happen daily.
The gym has since grown into a vital part of the community, with around 100-150 users every day.
Kaylan added: “It’s not just a gym here – the youngsters come in after school, and we have a lot of users with disabilities.
“We’ve built it from scratch, and now we have around nine volunteers who help everyone out and tidy up at the end of the night.”
Kaylan explained: “There’s not much to do in Thamesmead, so we were the place for children to fall back on.
“We have a mix of ages who come in.
“I am a licensed boxing trainer, and we teach kids discipline, anything that keeps them motivated and helps them socialise.”
While the gym may have started with a focus on physical fitness, it has since grown into something much bigger.
From hosting football games and boxing shows to being featured in films, Thamesmead Gym is involved in much more than just exercise.
Kaylan said: “We do a lot of funding – football games, boxing shows, and we’ve even had some films filmed in the gym.
“We also work closely with important causes, including knife crime, homelessness, and children with cancer.
“We have charity status and work with groups in need. My wife was an ex-prison officer, so we’ve done work with ex-offenders from Belmarsh.”
Michelle Jackson is one of the latest members of the gym who has experienced a dramatic transformation.
After frequenting the gym and losing an incredible 10 stone, Michelle has become not just a gym-goer but also a passionate member of the team.
She told the News Shopper: “This place has completely changed my life.
“I had various illnesses when I was 21 stone, and training here has improved my health. I’m turning 53 in a couple of months, and people say I look different.
“My heart is so full at the gym – I’m incredibly passionate about my job.
“I live just one minute away, and all my family trains here – from my youngest son to my daughter-in-laws. I love it here; I feel so blessed.”
Starting his journey after being kicked out of school, Kye found his passion for fitness and hasn’t looked back since.
He told the News Shopper: “I’m here to help people physically and mentally – I sign people in and out, hold classes, and help people with their calories if they need it.
“A lot of people hate their job, but our team is solid.
“Working here was the stepping stone to everything else I do – I box now and continue to train.”
Thamesmead Gym is open seven days a week, from 6am to 10pm, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm on Saturdays, and 9am to 5pm on Sundays.
For Kaylan, the gym is not just a business; it’s a vital part of the community that provides a safe space for everyone, regardless of their background.
The gym owner added: “We’ve had some great stories,” he said, sharing a proud moment from his time as a boxing coach.
“One guy I taught would often get into fights, and in the end, he got a deal with Sky and became a world champion boxer with two belts.”
