A successful project team is taking another energetic leap forward and looking to establish a gym to help keep Holt young people fit and healthy.Plans are being drawn up for the new fitness centre, to be run by Holt Youth Project, and the group already has more than £30,000 of funding in place.

A successful project team is taking another energetic leap forward and looking to establish a gym to help keep Holt young people fit and healthy.

Plans are being drawn up for the new fitness centre, to be run by Holt Youth Project, and the group already has more than £30,000 of funding in place.

It would feature equipment including running and rowing machines, weights and bench presses.

Dick Copas, who helps to run the project, said: “We are hoping to build it on the land we have available at the centre. We have got a grant of £31,000 from Norfolk Youth Fund and there are a number of small grants available. We have also acquired quite a lot of up-to-date equipment. The first designs are being drawn up, and a planning application will follow shortly.”

It is hoped the gym will be a nine by eight metre building. Mr Copas said: “We are looking particularly to providing for teenagers and people in their young 20s, but it will have an application for younger children as well.

“This will help youngsters build fitness and self-esteem and is part of our dream for the project.”

Run by volunteers, the project was started as a small group in the local church nearly 20 years ago. In 2004, after 10 years of fundraising, it moved into new premises in Hempstead Road.

Anyone interested in helping the project can call 01263 712812.