'All we can do is hope' - Gym illumination captures hearts and raises spirits in Selsey

Checkatrade founder Kevin Byrne first welcomed customers to Thrive Selsey Wellness Centre in Ellis Square in September. Permission was finally given for the state-of-the-art gym and health complex earlier in the year after an 'incredibly numbing' process. Read more hereMr Byrne said business has been 'lousy' during the Covid-19 pandemic, compounded by the cancellation of the Wiston Estate light-up trails, which he runs at Christmas.

He said: "[The gym] was only open about six weeks and they shut us down. Then we opened again but it wasn't very long.

"We wanted to do that [the light-up trail] so people had something to do over Christmas.

"We spent over £40,000 making it Covid safe. We restricted numbers, had a sophisticated booking system but the government sadly still shut it down. It ended up as a £150,000 loss."

However, Mr Byrne used this as an opportunity to raise spirits in the community in an alternative way.

Instead of leaving an illuminated sign, displaying a message of hope, to go to waste, Mr Byrne had the idea of moving it inside the gym for passersby to see.

“People need hope,” he said. “It’s all we can do.

“People are saying they really love it and it’s really lifted them. The response has been really positive. It’s gone down really well.

“We’re directly opposite the Selsey Centre where the vaccinations are being offered.

“The Thrive Selsey car park had been offered to the vaccination team leaving the Selsey Centre car park for the public.”

Mr Byrne said he is planning on displaying another message, with a love theme, on Valentine’s Day, and something similar in the summer and next Christmas.