I am raising funds for The Atrium Community to help them get back on their feet after a shocking few days. The Atrium is more than a gym — it’s a community and after a deliberate fire, im hoping we can come together to help them get back on their feet as quickly as possible. As many of you will know, the gym was broken into and intentionally set on fire during the early hours of 29th January. Thankfully nobody was hurt but the impact this has is huge for a small busines.

I have been a member since the Atrium opened four years ago, and you can truly feel the love, care and thought that went into creating it. It was built by people who genuinely care about how it feels to walk through the doors, what’s been created is so much more than a gym — it’s a community. The staff have poured their heart and soul into it, and from the moment you walk in there’s a warmth and sense of belonging that’s hard to find. One thing that stands out to me is the numerous events and activities they hold for both members and the wider public, many of which are free and held purely to bring enjoyment to the community.

Any funds raised will go straight back into the facility and ultimately support its members — helping with any uninsured costs and keeping this community space going while they navigate an uncertain cashflow. For a small business, the financial pressure during a time like this can be overwhelming.

The Atrium has always been there for the local community, and now they need us. So many of us have been asking what we can do to help — this is our chance to rally round and support them, just as we know they would without hesitation if this had happened elsewhere in Reading.