Community Fitness & Martial Arts · North Yorkshire

Train Hard.
Fight Smart.
Be The Unit.

A community gym and martial arts space built for everyone. No membership fees. No barriers. From weighted backpacks to Muay Thai — we started this because we believe everyone deserves the chance to get stronger.

See Our Classes Get Involved
£0
Membership
Cost — Ever
3
Co-Founders
One Dream
Open
To Everyone
No Exceptions
100%
Community
Driven
Our Mission

Fitness Is A
Right, Not A
Privilege

The Unit was born from a simple idea shared by three mates — that everyone deserves access to training, regardless of what's in their wallet. We opened our doors to the community with no price tag attached. The only currency we deal in is effort.

We believe that when people have somewhere to channel their energy, something to work towards, and people around them who want to see them succeed — things change. For the better.

Our Principles What We Stand For
Open to Everyone
Walk in. Work out. No joining fee, no monthly costs, no judgement. Just bring yourself.
Community First
We're not just a gym — we're a crew. Mutual support, shared goals, people who want to see each other succeed.
Built From Nothing
It started with three lads in backpacks. What began as a dream has grown into something real — and it's only getting started.
"Bloody hell mate, I am knackered."
— Žanis, after Ravenswick Bank. 15kg on his back. Chris had set a blistering pace.
The Unit
What We Offer

Classes & Training

Fitness for the body and the mind. Whether you're stepping into a gym for the first time or looking to sharpen real skills — there's something here for you.

MT
Muay Thai
Striking

Tom is one of those rare coaches who can get the absolute best out of anyone. His Muay Thai sessions build real conditioning, discipline, and striking technique — taught in a way that's genuinely accessible to beginners and developing fighters alike. Come ready to sweat.

BOX
Boxing
Striking

Žanis brings a natural intensity to boxing that's genuinely infectious — technical, progressive, and built around your pace. Whether you've never thrown a punch or you're pushing for something bigger, sessions are focused on real progress, not a one-size-fits-all programme.

TC
Tai Chi
Mind & Body

Strength doesn't always look explosive. Tai Chi develops balance, breath, and focus through slow, intentional movement. A brilliant complement to any training programme — and a discipline in its own right.

FIT
General Fitness
Conditioning

Open gym sessions and structured conditioning work. Free weights, bodyweight training, and functional movement. The same kind of training that started The Unit — no equipment needed to begin.

YTH
Youth Sessions
Ages 10+

Safe, supervised, and genuinely motivating sessions for younger members of the community. Building confidence, discipline, and physical fitness in an environment that celebrates every step forward.

+
More Coming
Growing

The Unit is still growing. New classes and instructors are being added as the community grows. If you've got skills to share or something you'd love to see on the timetable — get in touch.

How It Works

Simple.
No Catches.

We've stripped away everything that normally stops people getting fit. No joining fee. No monthly direct debit. No awkward contract. Just a door that's open for you to walk through.

How It Works Three Simple Steps
01
Turn Up

No appointment needed, no registration form, no admin. Walk through the door and you're already part of The Unit.

02
Train Hard

Pick your class, use the equipment, or work with someone who can guide you. Everyone starts somewhere — and everyone's welcome here.

03
Be Part of It

Bring a mate. Spread the word. Contribute what you can, when you can. The Unit grows when its community does.

The Cause

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Through Fitness

Anti-social behaviour thrives where there's nothing to do, nowhere to go, and no sense of belonging. The Unit exists to change that equation — giving people of all ages a purpose, a place, and a community they're proud to be part of.

Fitness and martial arts aren't just about the body. They build discipline, respect, and resilience. When people have direction and feel part of something, they invest in themselves — and in the people around them.

The Evidence Why It Matters
72%
of young people in regular structured physical activity show reduced involvement in anti-social behaviour
1 in 5
people in the UK have no access to affordable fitness facilities in their local area
£0
is what it costs to walk through The Unit's door — now and always

Change Starts Here

Three people from this community saw a problem and decided to do something about it. The Unit isn't a campaign or a government scheme — it's a real place, run by real people, for the people who need it.

Right now, space limits how many we can take on — but we're already working with a small group of teens who genuinely wanted change. One in particular has come on brilliantly — he's got his sights set on the Army, and Tom trains with him to keep pushing him on. With proper space and support, we can be there for many more.

If you believe in what we're building — come train. Bring someone. Help spread the word. Every person through the door is the whole point.

Community Impact

Built For The Community. Measured In Lives.

The Unit is a fully community-driven organisation. We are actively seeking grant funding from local and national bodies to develop our facilities and expand what we offer — because we believe the impact we're making deserves proper investment.

Our goals are measurable: reducing anti-social behaviour, improving physical and mental health, and building a place that gives young people and adults alike genuine direction. We welcome conversations with funders, councils, and community partners who share those values.

Our Impact By The Numbers
Free
Access for all — no means testing, no barriers
Local
Run by and for the North Yorkshire community
Impact
Reducing ASB through structured physical activity
Open
Welcoming all ages, backgrounds, and abilities

Our Community Charter

The Unit operates under a formal community charter that sets out our commitments — to free and open access, to the safety and wellbeing of our members, to our role in tackling anti-social behaviour, and to transparency in how we are run and funded.

The charter reflects the values that brought this project to life: that fitness should be for everyone, that communities are stronger when they work together, and that a group of people with a shared purpose can make a real difference.

If you are a funder or partner interested in supporting The Unit, we would be glad to share our full charter and impact data.

📋 Download Our Constitution
Get In Touch With Us
Our Story

Three Friends.
One Dream.
Something Real.

It started the way most good things do — not with a plan, but with a conversation and a bit of stubbornness. Three mates who wanted to get fitter, stronger, and better. They strapped on weighted backpacks and got on with it. That same spirit is what The Unit is built on.

C
📸 Photo coming soon
Chris
Co-Founder
One of the three who made this real. Chris has always believed that getting stronger isn't just a personal goal — it's something worth sharing. The Unit grew out of that conviction: that if you've found something that works, you owe it to your community to open the door.
T
📸 Photo coming soon
Tom
Co-Founder
Tom is, above everything else, a fantastic human being — the kind of person who can get the absolute best out of anyone he works with. Brilliant on the pads, and with a natural ability to read people and push them in exactly the right way at exactly the right moment. His Muay Thai coaching doesn't just make you better at fighting. It makes you believe you're capable of more than you thought.
Z
📸 Photo coming soon
Žanis
Co-Founder
Žanis brings the kind of work ethic that makes everyone around him raise their game. His boxing coaching has that same quality — intense, focused, and built on real technique. A key part of what holds The Unit together in training and in building, and a lot of what's been achieved is down to Žanis refusing to let things stay as just a dream.
Get Involved

Your Move

Whether you want to train, volunteer, or simply support what we're building — there's a place for you here.

Come Train

Walk in. Work out. Meet the crew. It costs nothing and you'll leave feeling better than when you arrived. Every class is open to everyone.

Get In Touch
Volunteer

Got skills to share — as a coach, instructor, or just someone who can lend a hand? We'd love to have you. The Unit runs on good people showing up.

Offer Your Time
Support Us

The Unit is community funded. If you believe in what we're doing and want to contribute — anything helps keep the doors open for everyone who walks through them.

Find Out More
Support The Unit

Help Us Keep
The Doors Open

The Unit is entirely free to use — and we intend to keep it that way. But keeping the lights on, the equipment maintained, and the sessions running takes resource. That's where the community comes in.

We are currently in the process of formally registering as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) — the right legal structure to ensure every penny contributed goes directly back into The Unit and the people it serves. Once registered, we'll have a proper, transparent donations platform in place.

In the meantime, if you'd like to support what we're building — whether that's a financial contribution, equipment, space, or simply spreading the word — we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch and we'll have a conversation.

Get In Touch Our Community Impact

Where Your Support Goes

Every contribution to The Unit — financial or otherwise — goes directly into keeping the gym free and accessible. No management fees, no overheads siphoned off. Just a community project run by people who care about it.

Once our CIO registration is complete, we will publish full accounts and impact reports so supporters can see exactly what their contribution achieves.

Where Your Support Goes
Equipment & Facilities
Keeping the gym safe, maintained, and improving for every member
Classes & Coaching
Funding qualified instruction so classes stay free for everyone
Community Outreach
Reaching more people, particularly young people with nowhere else to go
🏢 CIO Registration in progress
Governance

Our Documents

The Unit is a properly constituted community organisation. Our founding documents are available to download — for members, funders, and anyone who wants to understand how we operate.

Community Constitution

Our founding constitution sets out the aims, governance structure, and operating principles of The Unit. Adopted by all three co-founders on 24 April 2026.

Download PDF
Safeguarding Policy

Our safeguarding and child protection policy. The Unit is committed to the safety of all participants, particularly children and young people. Version 1.0, April 2026.

Download PDF
Get In Touch

Drop Us
A Message

Whether you want to come and train, volunteer, support us, or just find out more — fill in the form and one of the team will get back to you.

Email
hello@theunit.fit
Location
North Yorkshire

We'll get back to you as soon as we can. Usually within 24 hours.

Ready to Start?

Come and train with us. No experience needed — just turn up. The door's open.

Get In Touch