Our
Story
How a local opportunity became a place based charity.
Where it began
North Somerset Sports Foundation was established in 2024 following the opportunity to take on a former Everyone Active facility in the area.
The building had been well used, but it no longer felt like it was serving the community the way it could. We saw the chance to reimagine the space; not simply to refurbish it, but to give it a clearer purpose.
Watch our transformation
Transforming the space
That redevelopment became The Gym Lab. What was once a tired facility was transformed into a modern training environment, designed to be welcoming and accessible. From the beginning, the intention was bigger than creating a gym. We wanted to build a space where sport and community could connect. Somewhere where people of different ages and abilities could feel comfortable walking through the door.
This was a true community effort, and we are very grateful to all our wonderful team and volunteers
As we settled into the space, we have been able to recognise gaps in wellness provision and respond to community need.
We introduced adaptive, senior and recovery-based fitness sessions, recognising that many people were looking for safe, supported and accessible ways to return to activity.
In this time, The Gym Lab has evolved with the launch of the Performance Lab.
This studio setting provides a dedicated space for small-group training and for young athlete development.
Growing with the community
In September 2025, we launched our post-16 education programme, combining football with formal qualifications to offer an alternative pathway for young people seeking a different route.
Alongside ongoing provision, we have brought people together through wider community events, including a two-day grassroots football tournament welcoming clubs from across North Somerset.
These moments have reinforced what the space can be. North Somerset Sports Foundation isn’t just somewhere to train. It’s a place where people feel connected.
In a relatively short time, the North Somerset Sports Foundation has grown from the redevelopment of a single building into a place-based charity delivering sport, wellbeing and education programmes across the area; and that journey is still unfolding.
We’re still learning as we grow, and our direction continues to be shaped by the people who walk through our doors and the partnerships we build.
Still evolving
The next chapter
As we move into the next stage of our journey, our focus remains on responding to what we see locally.
We are currently recruiting for the second year of our post-16 education programme, building on the foundations laid in its first year. We aim to become registered as an Alternative Provider, meaning that we’ll be able to support more young people to access an alternative pathway.
Alongside this, we are continuing to develop our facilities and programmes to meet the needs of the North Somerset community.
We are committed to ensuring that the spaces we’ve created remain empowering, relevant and accessible.
The next phase of our work will build on what’s already in place; strengthening provision and extending opportunities where they are needed most.
If you’d like to be part of what we’re building, we’d love to hear from you.