Young Entrepreneur Brings Fitness and Joy to Elderly Care Homes

Bailey-Greetham Clark, a 21-year-old from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, has made a significant impact on the lives of elderly residents by founding Be Great Fitness. This company provides boxing and games sessions to 20-30 care homes, promoting both physical fitness and mental wellbeing among the elderly.

Clark's journey began in 2020 when he was just 17 years old. After speaking at 'Flourish,' a day center for adults with educational needs, he recognized a gap in access to sport and fitness for vulnerable groups. This realization prompted him to create a wellbeing company that caters to schools, hospitals, community centers, and care homes.

Be Great Fitness conducts one-hour sessions at care homes, featuring simple boxing drills and hand-eye coordination games. These activities are designed to enhance the residents' physical fitness and mental health. Clark emphasizes the importance of spreading joy and cheer during these sessions. 'Sport and exercise cheer people up, we make jokes and have a laugh with everyone, and we make their day better,' he said.

The initiative has gained considerable popularity, especially after Clark posted videos of his sessions on social media. These videos have garnered between 1,000 to 700,000 views, leading to a surge in interest and inquiries. 'We started by putting ourselves forward to care homes, but now we get tons of enquiries, my calendar is insane at the moment!' Clark mentioned.

Clark is now working to expand his team and roll out sessions nationally. He aims to collaborate with individuals who share his passion and enthusiasm for promoting fitness and mental wellbeing among the elderly. 'I just want to ensure that the people have my passion and enthusiasm - that's what's going to make a difference,' he said.

Clark's efforts are particularly significant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which left care homes among the last to emerge from full lockdowns. 'I realized that these groups needed the help pretty quickly. Coming out of the pandemic, care homes were the last to come out of full lockdown. We thought it was essential to bring fitness into them especially, just to spread some joy and cheer,' Clark explained.

Be Great Fitness is a testament to the power of youth-led initiatives in addressing societal needs. By focusing on the physical and mental wellbeing of elderly residents, Clark's company not only promotes health but also brings happiness and social interaction to those who need it most.

Key Takeaways

• Bailey-Greetham Clark founded Be Great Fitness, providing boxing and games sessions to 20-30 care homes.
• Clark's initiative aims to promote physical fitness and mental wellbeing among elderly residents.
• One-hour sessions feature simple boxing drills and hand-eye coordination games to enhance residents' health.
• Videos of the sessions on social media garnered 1,000 to 700,000 views, leading to a surge in interest.
• Clark plans to expand his team and roll out sessions nationally to promote fitness and mental wellbeing.