STEP AWAY FROM THE DIY DUMBBELLS

- David Lloyd Clubs launches ‘DIY Gym Amnesty’ as it’s revealed that makeshift workout equipment resulted in accidents or close calls for over a third of locked-down Brits -

• During lockdown 32% of fitness-conscious Britons fashioned weights and other exercise equipment from household objects including paint cans, tins of food and garden ornaments
• However, 12% caused damage and injury to themselves, their homes and others by using makeshift equipment. Another 27% very nearly had a homemade exercise disaster 
• With health clubs and gyms re-opening imminently, David Lloyd Clubs is offering people free days passes in exchange for a photo or video of their DIY gym equipment to allow Brits to finally workout safely with premium equipment 

Millions of fitness fanatics have been forced to spend the last four months exercising in their homes and for 32% that has meant fashioning improvised weights and exercise equipment from a variety of household objects. 

Now, using a chair (24%), the sofa (20%), tinned food (19%), a towel (19%) and books (16%) as substitute weights and dumbbells might seem like a good idea. However, according to the UK’s leading health and fitness group, David Lloyd Clubs, for one in eight (12%) the ‘lockdown DIY gym’ has been a recipe for disaster, resulting in personal injury and damage to their homes and furniture. 

The 10 most common items used as homemade gym equipment:

1) A chair
2) The sofa
3) Tinned food
4) A towel
5) Books
6) Bottle of wine
7) A child
8) Bags of flour
9) A heavy rucksack
10) Tins of paint

Recently a father made national headlines after sharing a photo of the damage to his living room ceiling caused by his children working out upstairs. This is something that those surveyed by David Lloyd Clubs can relate to, with mishaps caused by homemade exercise equipment leading to scuffs, marks and dents in walls (25%); damaging and staining furniture and flooring (19%); and breaking gadgets like tablets, laptops (21%) and smartphones (16%). 

It’s not just damage to homes, either, but damage to people too with typical injuries from makeshift workouts gone awry including a pulled muscle (20%), a sprained wrist and ankle (15%) and even broken bones (17%).

Luckily for fitness fans the DIY era is finally over as gyms in England are set to open from 25th July with Scotland and Wales tipped to be reopening soon after. And in light of the damage and injuries caused by makeshift mishaps, David Lloyd Clubs is launching a ‘DIY Gym Amnesty’ when its doors swing open. 

This means that people can tag @davidlloyduk on Instagram with a photo or video of them using their homemade exercise equipment like tins of soup and beans, pots of paint, books, bags of flour and even garden gnomes in return for a free day pass where they can exercise using state of the art gym equipment and get advice and support from professionals. 

Glenn Earlham CEO at David Lloyd Clubs said: “We’re delighted that we’re able to open our doors this weekend to our spacious and safe clubs. After all this time we can’t wait to welcome back members so they can make use of our premium health, fitness and wellbeing facilities, as well as enjoy the warm and friendly David Lloyd Club community, which so many have told us they have missed over the last few months at home. 

The lack of access to safe, professional exercise equipment during lockdown has driven many to create improvised gym gear at home, and for some that has unfortunately resulted in damage and injury. But no longer do people have to bother with DIY dumbbells made from paint tins or books stuffed in a rucksack. Now the real gym is back. In fact, if people share a photo or video of themselves using their homemade exercise equipment, we’ll swap it for a free pass to use our state of the art facilities with our team of expert Personal Trainers on hand to advise.”

The David Lloyd Clubs DIY Gym Amnesty will be running up and down the country at all 100 of its clubs from Saturday 25th July until the end of August. People are being asked to share a photo or video of them using their homemade exercise equipment by tagging @davidlloyduk on Instagram and in return they will receive a virtual day pass via DM, to get a chance to try out the club. 

- ENDS -
Notes to Editor

1. Research conducted by Opinion Matters with 2,039 Britons in July 2020.

T&C’s of the DIY Gym Amnesty
1. Offer is available 1 August – 31st August 2020 only.
2. Day Pass expires on 31st August 2020.
3. The offer entitles you to experience the facilities for one day at your local David Lloyd Club.
4. You must complete the day pass enquiry form prior to your visit to use your free one day pass.
5. Facilities are subject to availability on the day of your visit.
6. Only one complimentary day pass per person.
7. May only be used in accordance with the rules of daily membership.
8. Under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult.
9. Offer is not available at Harbour Club Chelsea and Notting Hill, and is only available in England and Northern Ireland where clubs are open. Day passes can be used in clubs in Scotland and Wales once they have reopened, with terms and conditions remaining the same.
10. Facilities, fees and classes vary by club.
11. Certain activities incur additional fees.
12. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
13. You use the club facilities at your own risk.
14. We recommend getting medical advice before doing any physical activity.
15. Standard rules and membership regulations apply.
16. The decision of the manager is final and the manager reserves the right to refuse admission.
17. Free day pass excludes access to the Spa Retreat.
18. Free day passes may be subject to availability at your chosen club.

 

Summary of new measures implemented:
We are closely following government guidelines in each country we operate in and working with the industry body UKActive, to provide a safe environment to train in and facilitate social distancing. 

In England measures are:
• Using our ample space effectively - 80% of clubs will operate with a second gym area on indoor tennis courts allowing for generous social distancing, workout areas of 3m x 3m providing maximum safety and a comfortable experience. 
• Where we are not able to move equipment, will take a proportion of equipment out of use to ensure social distancing. .
• We are limiting bookings/numbers for group exercise classes to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Members will be spaced at 2.5m apart. 
• We are reducing the number of members in certain areas of the club to minimise congestion and ensure members and team members can practice social distancing.
• We have introduced plastic screens to reception desks 
• We are asking members and team members to remain a safe distance apart in line with current social distancing guidelines.
• We are using signage, including clear floor markings to help members to remain apart, and team members will be on hand throughout our clubs to support.
• We are installing thermal imaging camera technology in some of our Clubs.
Upweighted our cleaning processes:
All cleaning is carried out with a fully viricidal disinfectant cleaner, certified to kill enveloped viruses (including Covid-19) within 60 seconds.
·     We have increased the number of cleaning staff we employ, with particular attention being paid to areas of high traffic.
·     We have introduced sanitisation stations across the Club, and have increased the amount of sanitiser spray and disposable blue paper available to members to further encourage them to wipe down and clean equipment before and after use.
·     We have introduced extra time between classes to allow us to fully clean all areas between classes.
·      All team members have been trained on our new ways of working for cleaning and social distancing and all will be responsible for cleaning and sanitising around the Club.
Safety of our team:
• We have completed Covid-19 workshops so the whole team is on board and understand what is required of them for us to safely run our Clubs.
• Team members have been told they should not leave home if they display any Covid-19 symptoms
• The team will be washing their hands before their shift, after completing cleaning tasks and frequently throughout shifts.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided to team members. Disposable gloves and aprons will be worn when completing any cleaning.
• Social distancing rules apply to team members too. We have re-organised offices and rotas to ensure social distancing can be achieved.
About David Lloyd Leisure Group:

The David Lloyd Leisure Group has 123 clubs - 100 clubs in the UK and a further 23 clubs across Europe, comprising its two brands David Lloyd Clubs and Harbour Clubs (of which there are three - Chelsea, Notting Hill and Kensington). In January 2020, it exchanged contracts on eight clubs from the Meridian Group in Germany. In March 2020 it announced it had exchanged contracts to acquire Geneva Country Club, its second club in the Geneva region.
It has over 660,000 members and employs around 8600 people. This includes an expert health and fitness team of over 2000 while it contracts the services of more than 680 tennis professionals.
 
David Lloyd Club’s racquets facilities are unparalleled with over 1080 tennis courts as well as over 400 badminton and squash courts. Additional facilities include health and beauty spas, club lounges with free internet access, crèches, nurseries and specialist sports shops. 
www.davidlloyd.co.uk