A north-east fitness club is planning to launch a new app designed to bring the community closer together.
Founder of Shape Up Peterhead, PJ Coutts is currently raising funds to develop the device which will allow people to keep up to date with different events at the club and get to know other people with similar interests.
Since the group was established three years ago, Facebook has been used to inform people about its various events, but as more people joined, this presented challenges.
Mr Coutts said: “I’d find I would be sharing things on these pages, but only a small number of people would actually see them. It started becoming very time-consuming and, of course, it can be quite distracting as well. I’ve also found that people join a Facebook group, but then don’t actually come to Fit Club.”
He is in the process of raising about £800 to launch the app and is convinced it will have the desired impact in the future.
But, in addition to having a “community orientated focus” it will give him more time to focus on Fit Club.
He added: “Some people who come to the club have children with autism. This would allow them to have a section of the app with a space to talk and share advice.”
“Lifelong friendships have been made through Fit Club. I realised it was something special when people started meeting up for coffees or started going on holidays together outside of classes.
“Fit Club is on three nights a week, but this will allow people to get the benefits 24/7.”
With parental permission, the app will also be suitable for children when it is unveiled later this year. In advance of the launch, Mr Coutts is currently taking part in a five-week course on how to ensure the venture will be a success.
To raise funds, he is also doing a 15 days to 15k challenge. This involves running consecutively for 15 days and increasing the distance by 1km every day.
He said: “We did this a few years ago and the outcome of it was very positive.”
To help fund the app, donations can be made to www.justgiving.com/campaign/15daysto15k?utm_term=PGmApKmPd&fbclid=IwAR0naYPPLiko47jUZmR24HwM0ivcVm8pA3ErnhKVY3BUDi4vSRqBfsqi24E