The club
Meet the team
Train with us
Weights & Cakes is a community interest company in Southwick, Sunderland. Not a gym chain, not a franchise. A club that exists so people who don't feel welcome in mainstream gyms have somewhere to get strong.
Our story
We're a community interest company whose objective is to offer a different way of training to people in the community who may not feel comfortable in a mainstream gym environment.
Our core mission is to increase social inclusion, improve fitness and general well-being, and build self-confidence in the people we work with, inspiring individuals to reach their full potential and live a more connected, healthier life in our safe and inclusive space in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.
We're on a journey to make training, exercising and sport more accessible to everyone, regardless of race, gender, ability or experience.
How you can get involvedMeet the team
Came to weightlifting later in life as a personal pursuit of strength and self-improvement, then founded Weights & Cakes to pass that on. Five Northern Masters titles, five British Masters titles, two European Masters titles and fourth at the World Championships.
Competitions
Competing is optional. Plenty of members never do. If you want to, this is the year ahead. Both calendars below are updated through the season, so check them for the current dates.
British Weight Lifting calendar Northern Weightlifting events
Check the BWL portal for qualification totals and entry deadlines. Coaches run in-house assessments to confirm entries, and a valid British Weightlifting membership is required for sanctioned competitions. Travel and accommodation are sorted at team meetings.
Accreditations
A community club still has to meet the same standards as anyone else. These are ours.
Every coach is DBS checked and safeguarding trained. Zoe additionally holds Mental Health First Aid and ASD awareness training, and our advisory board includes a qualified social worker.
Four licensed coaches, including two BWL technical officials, an MSc in Strength & Conditioning and an MSc in Applied Sport & Exercise Physiology.
A registered community interest company. Surplus goes back into equipment, coaching and free places, never to shareholders.
Governance
Six independent people who keep the club honest: safeguarding, legal, funding and community expertise, none of them on the payroll.
Sheffield Hallam University research fellow and founder of Mettle. Brings community sport, coach education and strength & conditioning.
Qualified social worker since 2002. Safeguarding and legislative experience; previously Safeguarding Link School Governor.
Legal professional with paralegal qualifications, bringing legal expertise and governance oversight.
CEO of a local charity. Community leadership, partnership building and strategic development.
CEO of a local charity. Operational leadership, funding strategy and service delivery.
Project and operations management at North East Ambulance Service. Chair of Able@NEAS and Deputy Chair of the National Ambulance Disability Network.