The Ken Smith Legacy Project

Aim: To rebuild Ken’s Gym as a low-cost, inclusive space where people grow stronger—physically and mentally—through community.

Ken’s Gym Legacy: Strength, Community, and Second Chances
A Community Project Honouring the Life and Work of Ken Smith

Ken’s Gym isn’t just a building—it’s a lifeline. For over 50 years, it offered troubled teens, working-class lads, and future champions a space to grow stronger—inside and out. Ken Smith ran this gym from his back garden, charged a minimal fee, and if you were out of work or in trouble, you trained for free.

“Ken never saw the bad in anyone. Even when he caught lads trying to break in, he invited them to train instead.” – Derek Turner

This wasn’t just about lifting weights. It was about lifting people—helping them find discipline, purpose, and connection through strength. Ken wasn’t flashy. He didn’t do it for recognition. He did it because he believed everyone deserved a second chance and a safe space to grow.

The Aim of This Project:

To rebuild and reopen Ken’s Gym as a community-led, inclusive, and welcoming space—offering people of all backgrounds the chance to get stronger in body and mind. We’re here to preserve Ken’s legacy by continuing what he started: a gym that changes lives through trust, consistency, and care. Your support helps us provide a safe, affordable space rooted in real values—not profit.

The rebuild is already well underway. The structure stands strong, and much of the original spirit is alive in the new space. With your help, we can finish the work and reopen its doors—keeping Ken’s legacy alive for the next generation.

What Your Donation Supports:

• £250 – Lighting, signage, and utilities
• £400 – Finishing safety flooring and matting
• £600 – Additional kit and accessories
• £750 – Insurance & compliance to ensure a safe opening

£10 helps us finish a square metre of flooring. £25 buys new accessories or mats. £50 gets us closer to welcoming the next person through the door. 

Every donation carries this legacy forward.

We’ll also be showcasing the journey: photos of the original gym, the current rebuild, and moments of transformation captured over the years—because this is about more than equipment. It’s about a culture Ken built with kindness, consistency, and trust.

Ken once said:

“Powerlifting is just a tool to help people get stronger in every sense. It’s never been about money.”

That’s what the Ken Smith Legacy Project is built on. Strength. Mentorship. Inclusion. Tenacity. Hope. This gym reflects the values Ken lived by—and the impact he had on those lucky enough to walk through its doors.

Whether you knew Ken personally or are just discovering what he stood for, this is your chance to be part of something lasting. Help us finish what he started—not just a gym, but a community built on belief.

Who We Are

This effort is being led by myself (Matt), one of the many young men whose life was shaped by Ken’s Gym. While this started as a rebuild in a back garden with limited means, it’s grown into something far bigger—a revival of a space that stood for resilience, acceptance, and second chances.

Behind me is a small but committed circle of supporters—former gym members, friends, and new voices who believe in the mission.

We are not a large organisation. We’re a grassroots effort. But our hearts are in it. And our vision is clear.

Our Vision

To build a self-sustaining, inclusive, low-cost community gym in the spirit of Ken Smith—where strength is measured not only by how much you lift, but by how much you lift others.

We envision:

• Affordable or free access to training for those who need it most
• A welcoming space for people of all backgrounds
• A culture of peer support, mentorship, and mental resilience
• A small, honest operation that gives back more than it takes

But first, we need your help to get it off the ground.

Every contribution—big or small—helps us do that. We’re not just funding a gym. We’re passing on a legacy.

With thanks and respect,
Matt

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 1st August 2025 at 9:46am