A Stoke-on-Trent veteran is working with the owners of a local gym to set up a series of monthly 'brew clubs' to offer support to different groups in the city. 

The informal support groups for men, women and veterans, which will take place on Sundays from 11am to 12.30pm, are being organised by Connor Postles, 30, with the support of Base Body Fitness, a gym in Park Hall. 

Connor is an Army veteran who currently works in veterans' healthcare. He is also an Army Reservist and regularly volunteers at the gym.

He explained that he was first inspired to create a support group for veterans after he saw that many people in the local area shared his own experience of isolation after leaving the armed forces. 

Connor said: "The veterans brew club is the one most personal to me. 

 "There's not a great deal of veteran support in the city. There's some good stuff nationally and regionally, but people don't always know how to access that.   

 "I wanted to create a low-key support group for veterans that are isolated, like I was when I first got out of the army." 

Connor explained that idea for the first group led to a "dominoes effect" and with the support of John and Abel – the owners of Base Body Fitness – he wanted to create groups to help different groups of people facing unique challenges. 

advertisement

Alongside the veteran's brew club, there gym will also be hosting monthly groups for men and women. 

The brew clubs will be hosted at Base Body Fitness, Park Hall (image via Nub News)

John and Abel, who previously set up a successful Parkinson's support group at the gym which has grown from four to over forty members, were keen to support the project.  

They explained that they want to ensure that they are "putting something back into the community" and stressed that Base Body Fitness is "more than just a gym".  

Abel said: "These brew clubs are for people to gather, talk and stop people feeling isolated when they don't have anybody to talk to." 

John said: "We are always of the mind that gyms should not just be focused on fit people – the gym is for everybody. 

"We want to help everybody here, not just people who want to build muscle or train for a marathon." 

Connor explained that they will be primarily informal and social groups, but he has reached out to a range of organisations such as men's mental health groups and Staffordshire Women's Aid and hopes to regularly have representatives available to talk and offer expert advice. 

advertisement

He added: "Some people don't want to go to a church hall or a community centre where there is a sign outside that says something like men's mental health support.  

"There's the stigma around it and some people might not want it advertised outside. But this is a gym. 

"Lots of the people coming to the groups also come to the gym so it's a relaxed environment they already know." 

The first veterans brew club will take place on Saturday 18 April and will continue on every third Sunday of the month. 

The men's brew club will take place every fourth Sunday and the women's brew club will take place every second Sunday. 

The groups are open to everyone, including non-gym members. 

To find out more about Base Body Fitness, visit the website here.