Membership Terms and Conditions

Welcome to Fit This

Whether you're joining us for the first time or you've trained here for years, we're genuinely glad to have you as part of the club.

These terms explain how membership works and how we all keep the place friendly, safe and enjoyable. We've written them in plain English and kept them as short as we sensibly can, because they exist to help everyone get the most out of Fit This, not to catch anyone out. If something here isn't clear, just ask a member of staff. We're always happy to help.

About Fit This

Fit This is an independent gym that has been part of the community since 2008. We're not a chain, and we don't try to be one. We're a friendly, well-run club where people come to train hard, feel welcome and get on with their day.

Fit This is operated by Hackney Community Leisure Ltd, 3 Reading Lane, Hackney, London E8 1GQ. You can reach us any time at manager@fit-this.com.

Our approach is simple. We believe in fairness, respect, kindness and common sense, and we trust our team to use good judgement. Wherever these terms leave room for a decision, our staff will make a fair and consistent one, drawing on eighteen years of running this club.

Who can join

Membership is open to anyone aged 16 and over. If you're 16 or 17 you're very welcome to join, but a parent or guardian will need to set up and be responsible for the Direct Debit on your behalf.

Everyone who joins agrees to these terms and to training in a way that's safe and considerate of the people around them.

Joining

Joining is straightforward. You can sign up at reception or online, and once your membership is active you're free to use the club in line with your chosen membership and these terms. When you join we'll ask for a few basic details so we can set up your account and keep in touch when we need to.

Types of membership

We offer more than one kind of membership, so you can pick the one that suits how you train and how long you want to commit for. What's available, and what each one costs, is set out at reception and on our website. That's the live list, and it's the one to go by.

For these terms, what matters is the difference between two kinds:

• Rolling memberships continue month to month with no fixed end date. You can leave at any time by giving notice, as set out below.
• Minimum term memberships run for an agreed period, for example three months or twelve months, and are paid monthly by Direct Debit in the same way. The difference is that you're committing to the full term when you join.

Before you join we'll tell you which kind you're signing up for and, if there's a minimum term, when it ends. It's on your membership confirmation too, so you've got it in writing.

When a minimum term comes to an end, your membership simply carries on as a rolling monthly membership at our standard rolling rate. It doesn't automatically renew for another fixed term, and you don't need to do anything to stop that happening. From that point you can leave whenever you like by giving notice in the normal way.

Admin fee

There's a one-off admin fee of £40 when you join, which covers setting your membership up.

From time to time we run offers where the admin fee is reduced or waived. Where we do, we'll make the terms of that offer clear at the time, including when it ends. Your This Is Fit sessions are included either way; they're part of every membership, not something the fee buys.

What your membership includes

Every new membership includes our This Is Fit programme (TIF): three one-to-one sessions with a qualified personal trainer, taken within your first four weeks of membership. Sessions are booked with us in advance and are subject to trainer availability, so book early in your membership to get times that suit you.

TIF sessions have no cash value, cannot be exchanged for other services or transferred to anyone else, and any sessions not taken within the first four weeks are lost, though if we have caused the delay, we will honour them. If you've been a member before, TIF applies again as long as your previous membership ended more than six months before you rejoin. Rejoin within six months and your membership picks up where it left off, without a fresh set of sessions.

Day passes

You don't have to be a member to train here. Day passes are available at reception and online, and give you access to the club for a single day.

Day passes are for people aged 18 and over. If you're 16 or 17 you're very welcome to join as a member instead, with a parent or guardian responsible for the Direct Debit. Anyone using a day pass agrees to our Club Rules and to the parts of these terms covering health and safety, use of the equipment, conduct towards other people, and our right to refuse entry. We'll ask you to confirm that when you buy your pass, and to give us a few basic details and an emergency contact before you train.

A day pass covers everything a membership does for the day: the gym floor, studio classes (subject to space, so book ahead or check with reception) and the sauna. The only exception is sunbeds, which are paid for separately by everyone, members included. Day passes don't include This Is Fit sessions.

A day pass is for the day it's bought for and the person who bought it. It can't be transferred, saved for another day or refunded once it's been used.

Free trials

Anyone thinking of joining is welcome to a free trial: a full visit to the club rather than a tour. Trials are booked in advance, and before you train we'll ask for a few basic details, an emergency contact, and the same short health questions we ask of members.

Free trials are open to anyone aged 16 and over. If you're 16 or 17, a parent or guardian needs to give their consent before you train, and we'll ask them to complete the booking details with you.

A free trial visitor agrees to our Club Rules and to the parts of these terms covering health and safety, use of the equipment, conduct towards other people, and our right to refuse entry. Trials are for the person they're booked for and can't be transferred, and we may limit how many trials one person takes.

Payments and Direct Debits

Memberships are paid monthly by Direct Debit, collected on or around the same date each month. That's the case whether you're on a rolling membership or a minimum term one. Please make sure there are enough funds available when a payment is due. If a payment fails, we'll usually get in touch so we can sort it out together before it affects your membership.

Your Direct Debit is protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee. If you're 16 or 17, the Direct Debit must be arranged by a parent or guardian, who is responsible for the payments.

If you're on a minimum term membership and payments stop before the term has finished, the remaining monthly payments are still due, because the commitment was for the full term. We'd much rather talk to you than chase you, so if money is the problem, please come and tell us. There's more on this in 'Leaving before your minimum term ends' below, and we'd far rather find a sensible answer together than let it become a debt.

From time to time we may need to adjust our prices. If your membership fee is changing, we'll always tell you in good time beforehand so there are no surprises. If you're partway through a minimum term, the fee you agreed at the start holds until that term ends.

Referring a friend

Refer a friend who becomes a member and we will take 10% off your monthly membership fee for as long as they remain a member, for each member you refer. There is no limit on referrals.

The discount applies from the payment after your friend's membership starts and ends if their membership ends. Discounts can reduce your fee to zero but we will not pay you beyond that. The person you refer must name you when joining, and we may ask you both to confirm. This is how we have grown for eighteen years, so please keep referring.

Cancelling a rolling membership

We hope you'll be with us for a long time, but if you decide to leave Fit This, simply let us know in writing by emailing manager@fit-this.com.

Rolling memberships require one calendar month's written notice. Your membership ends once that notice period has expired, and you're welcome to keep training right up until then.

If you're unsure when your notice will take effect, just ask a member of the team and we'll be happy to explain.

Cancelling a minimum term membership

If you're on a three or twelve-month membership, you've committed to the full term, so the position is a little different.

One calendar month's written notice applies here too. Your membership ends either when your notice period runs out or when your minimum term finishes, whichever comes later.

In practice, on a twelve-month membership: give notice in month eleven and you'll finish at the end of month twelve, as planned. Give notice in month twelve and you'll finish at the end of month thirteen, because the notice still needs its month. So if you know you want to leave when the term ends, tell us a month before and the two line up neatly.

If you don't give notice at all, nothing dramatic happens. You move onto a rolling monthly membership and can leave whenever you like from then on.

Leaving before your minimum term ends

Sometimes life changes and a minimum term stops making sense. We understand that, and we'd rather sort it out properly than hold anyone to something that's become impossible.

We'll end a minimum term membership early, with no further payments due, in any of the following circumstances:

• You move house and your new home is too far away to use the club reasonably. We'll ask to see something showing your new address.
• You have an injury, illness or medical condition that stops you training for a long period, or for good. A note from a doctor or physiotherapist is all we need.
• You're made redundant or lose a significant part of your income, so the membership is no longer affordable.

We ask for evidence in these situations, but we ask for it once and we keep it simple. We're looking to be satisfied, not to make it difficult.

If something else has happened that isn't on that list, please write to us at manager@fit-this.com and tell us what's going on. We'll look at it properly and give you an answer in writing. We won't always be able to say yes, but we'll always give you a reason, and we'll treat two people in the same position the same way.

Where we agree to end a term early, any admin fee already paid isn't refunded, and you'll pay for the month you're in. Nothing beyond that.

Freezing your membership

Sometimes you don't want to leave, you just need a pause. An injury that needs a couple of months, a spell working away, a stretch of life that's simply too full. Rather than cancelling and rejoining, you can ask us to freeze your membership.

While your membership is frozen you pay a reduced monthly holding fee instead of your usual fee, which keeps your membership, your rate and your referral discounts exactly as they were, ready for when you come back. The current holding fee is set out at reception and on our website. If you're partway through a minimum term, the term pauses while you're frozen and picks up again when you return, so you don't lose time you've committed to.

If you're pregnant, you're very welcome to keep training with us, and our team includes trainers who specialise in pre and postnatal fitness and will happily adapt your sessions. If you'd rather take a break, a freeze is there whenever you want it, for as long as you need it. Just talk to us and we'll sort out whatever suits you best.

To arrange a freeze, speak to a member of the team or email manager@fit-this.com, and tell us roughly how long you'd like it for. We'll confirm it in writing.

Your cooling-off period

If you change your mind shortly after joining, that's absolutely fine. You have a 14-day cooling-off period from the day you join during which you can cancel and receive a refund of what you've paid, less a fair charge for any time you've already used the club. Just let a member of staff know, or email us, and we'll take care of it.

Getting into the club

Please check in at reception every time you visit. It only takes a moment, and it helps us know who's in the building, which matters for everyone's safety, particularly in an emergency. If you're coming in for a studio class, please also check in for your class so your instructor knows you're there.

Your QR code is personal to you, a bit like a key. Please don't share it or let anyone use it to get in; memberships are for the person they belong to.

For the same reason, please don't hold the door for someone you don't know or let anyone slip in behind you. We call this 'tailgating', and it's the main way people end up in the club who shouldn't be. If you ever see it happen, there's no need to challenge anyone yourself; just let a member of staff know and we'll handle it discreetly.

Bringing a guest

We love it when members introduce friends to the club, and guests are welcome by prior arrangement. Please let us know in advance so we can approve the visit and have everything ready.

On arrival, every guest will need to register, show photo ID and complete any short paperwork we ask for. This keeps things fair and safe for everyone, and means your guest is properly looked after during their visit.

Looking after each other

Fit This works because members look out for one another. We ask everyone to treat staff and fellow members with respect and consideration, and to bear in mind that the club is a shared space used by people of all ages, backgrounds and fitness levels.

Aggressive, threatening or abusive behaviour of any kind has no place here. If a disagreement ever comes up, please bring it to a member of staff rather than trying to settle it between yourselves; we'd always rather help sort things out calmly.

Health and safety

Your wellbeing matters to us, but you know your own body best, so please train sensibly and within your limits. You take part in exercise at your own risk, and if you have any health concerns we'd encourage you to speak to a doctor before starting or stepping up your training. If you feel unwell at any point while you're here, please stop and tell a member of staff straight away.

Our team may ask you to pause or adjust what you're doing if they think it's necessary for your safety or someone else's. It's never personal; it's simply part of keeping the club a safe place to train.

If the fire alarm sounds, or a member of staff asks everyone to evacuate, please leave the building immediately, follow staff instructions and make your way to the assembly point in the Town Square opposite Hackney Town Hall. Please don't re-enter the building until staff confirm it's safe to do so.

Using the equipment

Please use the equipment as it's intended and ask a member of staff if you're ever unsure how something works. We're happy to show you. When you've finished with a weight or a machine, please return it to where it belongs so the next person can find it, and wipe it down where appropriate. A quick wipe after a sweaty set makes a real difference to everyone who trains after you.

Food and drink

You're welcome to bring a drink and a snack to keep you going. All we ask is that you eat considerately, clear up after yourself and keep things tidy. For safety reasons, please don't bring glass bottles or containers into the club; spills and breakages on a gym floor are best avoided.

What to wear

Please wear something comfortable and suitable for exercising in a shared environment. Normal gym clothing is absolutely fine, and sports bras are perfectly acceptable as gym wear. Beyond that we keep things relaxed; just dress in a way that works for training and feels appropriate around others.

Certain lifts and exercises are genuinely better done barefoot or in socks, and that's fine where it suits what you're doing. Just be aware that our black rubber flooring can leave marks on light-coloured socks, so darker socks are the safer choice.

Phones, photos and filming

Phones are part of everyday training, and a quick call or a glance at your programme is no problem at all. To keep the floor pleasant for everyone, please keep calls brief and use headphones for videos or music; speakerphones and loud audio aren't allowed.

If you'd like to film your training, please be mindful of the people around you and avoid capturing anyone who hasn't agreed to be filmed. Tripods and phone stands are welcome during quieter periods as long as they don't get in anyone's way, but our staff may ask you to move or pack them away when it's busy.

Occasionally we take photographs around the club for our own marketing. We'll always be considerate about this, and if you'd rather not appear, just let us know and we'll make sure you don't.

Changing rooms and showers

Our changing facilities are there for you to use before and after training. Please help us keep them clean and pleasant for the next person. Showers are for showering only; please don't shave or carry out other grooming in them, as it creates a mess and a hazard for others.

If we have a sauna in use, please sit on a towel while you're in it. It keeps things hygienic and comfortable for everybody.

Sunbeds

Where sunbeds are available, sessions are purchased separately from your gym membership, and once a session has been used it can't be refunded.

If you use the sunbeds, please always wear protective eyewear or approved eye stickers, and follow the guidance our staff give you; it's there for your safety.

Your belongings

Lockers are available for use during your visit. Please empty your locker before you leave unless we've agreed otherwise, so it's free for the next member. While we do our best to keep the club secure, your belongings remain your responsibility, so please don't leave valuables unattended.

If you leave something behind, we keep lost property for one calendar month, and anything valuable is stored securely in the meantime. Where an item clearly belongs to someone we can identify, we'll do our best to let them know. After a month, unclaimed items may be donated or disposed of.

If you cycle in, please use any bike parking provided and lock your bike securely, taking care not to obstruct entrances, exits or walkways. Bikes are left at your own risk.

Training together and personal training

Training with a friend, spotting each other and swapping tips is all part of gym life, and we love to see it. What we do ask is that nobody runs a personal training or coaching business from the club without our permission. If you're a trainer and you'd like to work with clients here, come and talk to us; we're open to it, but it needs to be arranged properly and agreed in advance.

Dogs

Assistance dogs are always welcome. Other dogs may occasionally be allowed with prior approval from a member of staff, but please check with us first rather than simply arriving with your dog.

Children and visitors

If you need to bring a child or a visitor with you, please speak to us first so we can make sure it's safe and appropriate. Anyone who isn't a member and is visiting the club counts as a guest and should register at reception in the usual way.

Smoking, alcohol and drugs

For everyone's health and safety, smoking and vaping aren't permitted inside the club, and please don't come in under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol isn't to be brought into or consumed in the club.

Illegal drugs, and the use of any substance to enhance performance in a way that puts you or others at risk, are strictly prohibited. This is one area where we can't use discretion: anyone involved with illegal drugs in the club will have their membership ended and may be reported to the authorities.

Maintenance and closures

From time to time we need to carry out maintenance, and occasionally a piece of equipment or an area of the club may be unavailable for a while. We'll always try to keep any disruption to a minimum and to give you notice where we can.

If part of the club is temporarily closed, that on its own doesn't create an entitlement to a refund or compensation, as the rest of the club remains open and available to you. Now and then we may also need to close at short notice for reasons of safety or events beyond our control, and we'll reopen as soon as it's safe and sensible to do so.

If the whole club has to close for an extended period, for example during something like a pandemic, we would normally freeze memberships for that time so that no payments are taken while you're unable to train. A freeze we impose because the club is closed doesn't carry a holding fee; that only applies to freezes you ask for. Where a closure freezes a minimum term membership, the term pauses too and picks up again when we reopen, so you don't lose the time you've committed to. Every situation is different, but that's the fair and sensible approach we aim to take.

Our responsibility to you

We take safety seriously and maintain the club to a good standard. Nothing in these terms limits our responsibility for anything it wouldn't be lawful for us to exclude, including liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence. Beyond that, and because exercise carries its own risks, you take part at your own risk, and we can't accept responsibility for loss, damage or injury that isn't caused by our fault.

If something's not right

If you're ever unhappy about something, please tell us. The quickest way to put things right is to raise it with a member of staff or email us at manager@fit-this.com, and we'll look into it properly. Please bring any concern to us rather than arguing it out with another member; we're here to help and we take feedback seriously.

Suspension, termination and entry

The vast majority of members never need to think about this section, but we do need to be clear. We may refuse entry, or suspend or end a membership, where it's genuinely necessary, for example to keep people safe, where someone refuses to follow reasonable instructions from our staff, or where someone repeatedly behaves in a way that's unfair, unsafe or unacceptable to staff or other members.

Occasionally, if something happens that we need to look into, we may temporarily suspend a membership while we investigate before deciding whether any further action is needed. This isn't a judgement on anyone; it simply gives everyone involved a fair hearing while things are looked at properly.

Where we end a minimum term membership for one of these reasons, the remaining payments for the term stop at the same time. We're not going to end someone's membership and keep charging them for it.

We'll always aim to be fair and consistent, to explain our reasons, and to use these steps as a last resort rather than a first response. And of course, you can end your own membership at any time by giving notice as described above.

Changes to these terms

As the club evolves, we may need to update these terms now and then. When we make a meaningful change, we'll let you know and publish the current version on our website, so the version you can see online is always the one that applies.

Getting in touch

We'd always rather you asked than wondered. You can speak to any member of the team at the club, or reach us at:

Fit This · Hackney Community Leisure Ltd 3 Reading Lane, Hackney, London E8 1GQ Email: manager@fit-this.com

General

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and any dispute will be dealt with by the courts of England and Wales. If any part of these terms turns out not to be enforceable, the rest of them continue to apply. These terms are between you and Hackney Community Leisure Ltd, and you can't transfer your membership to someone else without our agreement. Where we choose not to enforce a particular rule on a given occasion, that doesn't mean we've given it up for the future.

A note on common sense

No document can cover every situation that might come up in a busy, friendly gym, and we wouldn't want one that tried. What these terms really come down to is this: we'll always do our best to make fair, reasonable and consistent decisions, using good judgement and common sense in the interests of our members, our staff and the club as a whole.

Thank you for being part of Fit This. Train hard, look after each other, and enjoy the club; that's what it's here for.