Save Our Gym

For over 30 years TJs Gym has offered a health and fitness community to Isle of Wight residents. We have provided classes for all ages and abilities and have created a space that is accessible to everyone, from all social and economic backgrounds.

 

In 2016 we relocated from the Spithead Business Estate to our current address, 77 Sandown Road, Lake, which has allowed us to offer a more usable space, whilst also increasing car parking and greater accessibility for the people wishing to use the gym.

 

As it stands we:

 

• Have approximately 200 members

• Fill 20-25 classes per week over 7 days

• Provide for members as young as 6 and up to the age of 80

• Allow employment for 10 people.

• Provide specialist hours for people with learning difficulties.

• Provide work experience opportunities for IOW College, facilities for the local secondary school and sports community and cater for young people who have ADHD, Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.

• Run a successful kickboxing club that boasts 4 x GB National champions and countless Jnr southern area champions.

• Supported several IOW charities including the Soup Kitchen and Wight Brainy Brunch.

• Have raised over 70K for charity and humanitarian projects in Romania and Ukraine.

• Built water towers and raised funds to deliver menstrual hygiene education in the poorest regions of Cambodia.

 

Last week we received a letter from LAWDIT, the lawyers acting for the Porter Club, appointed by the club secretary. The Porter Club is the registered freeholder of the property and operate from the rear of the building.

 

Certain members of Porter Club committee have attempted to interfere with and disrupt our business since we opened in 2016; it now looks as though they are attempting to shut down our gym completely, by forfeiting the lease, which was bought for a considerable sum in 2010, by our landlord, Mr Li. We are also named as defendants to the claim due to our sublease arrangement with Mr Li.

 

The purpose of seeking forfeiture is to repossess the entire building and prevent TJ’s from operating lawfully.

 

Should the Porter Club be successful in their court case, we risk the building being taken and the gym folding entirely. Legal costs for TJs to fight this action are between £15K-£25K with no guarantee that this will be returned should we win the case; if we are unsuccessful, the Porter Club will no doubt seek their costs, which could be a similar amount or more.

 

We are seeking donations - no matter how small - to help with the legal fees needed to fight our case in court against the Porter Club, in an attempt to keep TJs gym open.

 

Should the court fees be recovered, we will return all donations. If funds are not recovered but the costs fall short of the predicted amount, any excess will be put directly towards one of the charitable funds that TJs has supported over the years.

 

This is a typical David and Goliath situation. The Porter Club has a considerable war chest of funds available to try and defeat us. We are a small business reliant upon our monthly membership subscriptions to survive.

 

We cannot compete with the Porter Club financially without your help and support.

 

Thank you

"Steve Marsh and all the staff at TJs work tirelessly to provide a positive and inspiring experience for everyone who visits. They make a huge contribution to the health and well-being of the Island. Several of my friends, having seen the wonderful impact TJ's has had on my health, have also become members. They love it and value it too. It would be a terrible shame and a huge loss to the local community, and to the Island itself, if TJ's was forced to close. TJ's is a very important, dynamic and much-loved gym providing a crucial and unique service to everyone. It deserves to stay open and continue to thrive.

Damien Whitmore 
Former Creative Director TATE Modern and the Victoria & Albert Museum

 

"Going to TJ’s gym helped me get through some very tough times, at TJ’s I not only get to work out and become stronger physically, I have also been able to overcome issues mentally, I have made great friends and have a really invaluable support network, I love going there and would not find the same anywhere else."  K.W

 

"TJs Gym provides a valuable service to help maintain both mine and my family's mental health. They have been there for us throughout injuries and mental difficulties, always providing the support we need when we've needed it ... particularly through the lockdowns. TJs community means TJs family." A.M / Parent

 

"I love kickboxing at TJs. The discipline and confidence it has given me has really helped at school. There are really great rolemodels at the gym to show me how to stay healthy. I would be lost without kickboxing." K.M Aged 13