Knives seized by the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom have been melted down and repurposed into gym equipment for a new outdoor fitness facility in north London, funded with support from Sport Relief.
The free public outdoor gym, located at Pymmes Park in Upper Edmonton, Enfield, opened in May and is the fifth site in the capital operated by Steel Warriors.
Founded in 2017, Steel Warriors says its mission is to “rethink how we tackle knife crime” and build “a nation where young lives are built on steel, not destroyed by it”.
Across the past decade, the Metropolitan Police has typically seized or recovered around a tonne of knives and other bladed weapons from London streets each month.
Although the gyms are open to the public, Steel Warriors focuses heavily on youth intervention programmes and support for vulnerable young people.
Steel Warriors coach Simone told BBC London, “I’ve seen so many young people come and tell me their stories of what they were doing beforehand and where they are now, and how they have changed their lives.
“Being a part of that story has been amazing and I can’t wait to change more lives at the new gym.”
The Pymmes Park facility joins existing Steel Warriors sites in Ruskin Park (Lambeth), Finsbury Park (Haringey), Langdon Park (Tower Hamlets) and the Carpenters Estate (Newham).
The charity receives direct funding from Sport Relief, whose latest campaign began on Monday with Euro 2022 champion Jill Scott launching a 388-mile (624km) cycle ride from Wembley Stadium to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
Free calisthenics sessions are also held at each Steel Warriors gym, with qualified coaches on hand to guide participants.
Calisthenics is a form of exercise that uses body weight to build strength, endurance, flexibility and coordination.
Demi, a coach who has worked with Steel Warriors for six years, said, “The support that Sport Relief gives on a large scale is absolutely game-changing.
“To have the backing of such an organisation is monumental. Previously, five or six years ago, no-one even knew what calisthenics was. Now you have Sport Relief supporting it and the impact of that is incredible.”
Andrew, 23, shared how the programme transformed his life: “It helped change my life because it got me out of my comfort zone. When I was younger I was stuck in my bedroom on video games.
“But when I came out here and started doing pull-ups, one pull-up became three pull-ups, three became five.
“You start learning about yourself. You realise you can do more than what you’re used to and your dreams start to become more believable.”
Alongside funding from Sport Relief, the Pymmes Park gym also received support from Enfield Council and the Meridian Water Community Chest Fund.
Steel Warriors coaches now run two community sessions and one teen class each week at the park, with plans to introduce a dedicated women and girls’ class soon.
A spokesperson for Sport Relief said: “Donations to Sport Relief help build communities and can help people find belonging, support and a team that lifts them up when life feels toughest.
“Every pound turns sport into support, with donations powering confidence, wellbeing and real change for people facing the most difficult barriers.”
