Always on
This project successfully funded on 15th October 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
A1: Building Hope, Confidence and a Safer Future
Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, United Kingdom
Aim
At A1 Muay Thai, our goal is simple: to give a lifeline to those that need it most. We are not just a gym, we are a safe space.
At A1 Muay Thai, we know that martial arts are about more than just fighting — they’re about belonging and resilience.
We offer more than just fitness:
A safe space when life feels overwhelming
Confidence when self belief is low
A community that never lets anyone feel left behind
Our head coach, Kru Dan, has lived this . His story:
As a child, Dan was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis whilst already training in Muay Thai. At the time, in the 80’s, it was a relatively unknown condition in children and only ever associated with the elderly. The illness meant he couldn’t always train consistently. There were times when he had to stop for months and even years.
But every single time he returned, he was welcomed back in. No judgement. No exclusion. Just encouragement, patience, and the support of his Muay Thai family. This is exactly what we are trying to do for our gym. We want everyone to feel welcome, to have a space to feel safe in, to help them through their problems just like Dan had.
It gave him:
- Confidence to keep going, even when his body struggled
- Community that never let him feel left out
- Belief that he was stronger than his illness
Now, as a coach, Dan wants to pass that forward and unless we act now, the people who need us the most will lose this community.
At A1 Muay Thai, we open our doors to children, teenagers, and vulnerable adults — anyone who needs a safe space to grow stronger, feel supported, and know they belong.
Unfortunately, we are now at a crossroads. We are having to move 2 years earlier than we had planned to. We are in a residential area, and even though we are permitted to use the small unit we have as we do, we understand some residents are unhappy with this. Given what we stand for, we are desperately trying not to upset anyone, we have made all the possible moves we can for this but have had to make the heartbreaking decision to move.
Our current space is too small, our equipment is wearing out, and our waiting lists are growing. We have people who desperately want to join us — kids who need direction, adults looking for support — but we simply don’t have the space or resources.
We have always funded everything ourselves, sometimes to our detriment because we believe so much in this, but we simply have nothing left.
We have helped children that have been bullied, an experience Dan had when he was ill due to the medication he was on. He put on weight and was bullied as a result. We have helped women that were too scared to walk through the door build confidence, self-belief and learn how to defend themselves. We have helped men with their mental health, given them the support they need and belonging, and in turn we all help each other.
We do not want this to end.
This is where you come in.
With your help, we can:
1. Move to a bigger unit – giving us space to welcome more people into our Muay Thai family.
2. Upgrade equipment – ensuring everyone can train safely with the right gear.
3. Keep classes accessible – so cost never stops someone from joining.
4. Put on more classes for children, women's self defence and free camps for children during the holidays for the families that need it the most.
Your support isn’t just about equipment or space. It’s about making sure that no child or adult ever feels left out or unsafe.
This isn’t just a Muay Thai club.
It’s a community, a second family, and a lifeline for those who need it most.
🙏 Please stand with us. Whether you can donate £5, £500, or simply share our story, you’ll be helping us give others the same welcome, support, and belonging that shaped Dan’s life.
Every story matters. Every donation helps another person feel seen, supported and part of something bigger.
Together, we can build a bigger, safer, stronger home for A1 Muay Thai — and for everyone who needs us.
Thank you for believing in our vision.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made