THE director of a gym is aiming to raise money to continue hosting a ‘warm space’ for residents after a bid for funding was rejected.

Becky Patrick is the director of New Options Gym, on St Luke’s Road in Grimethorpe and she has been hosting the warm session for residents for a number of weeks.

Alongside Ann and Steph Kirk, Becky was hoping to gain a grant to continue the event but Barnsley Council rejected her application.

After funding the event through the gym, Becky thought she would have to stop the sessions due to costs but a number of people have donated to keep the event going.

These people include local influencer Apollonia Llewellyn, Kai Hancock, Lee Deakin, Alpine Scaffolding Solutions, Dearnvale Care Home and the Copper Top Bar.

Becky said: “We’re providing a warm space for everybody in the North East ward.

“It gets really busy, especially with the older people.

“I applied to the council for a grant but it got rejected.

“We’ve been funding it ourselves but we put something out on Facebook saying we were going to have to stop them and a number of people got in touch with donations.”

Apollonia, who donated £200, added: “I donated because my gym is like a family and to hear they could no longer run the warm space for the elderly was heartbreaking.

“I knew that I needed to step in and help.”

The sessions take place every Monday from 11am to 1pm, and every Friday from 4pm to 6pm.

The Mayor of Barnsley, Coun Mick Stowe, will also be in attendance on Monday.