A popular gym that hired ex-convicts as personal trainers to give them a second chance at life will close at the end of the week.
Confit, which stood for ‘fitness for convicts’ and operated in Parramatta, west of Sydney, was founded in January by reformed convict Joe Kwon.
Despite funding his charity Confit Pathways and hopes of helping rehabilitate others leaving prison, Kwon revealed the gym will close on Saturday.
He said the cost of running the gym had grown too high and had begun to affect the charity’s effectiveness.
Having built the gym from scratch, Mr Kwon said closing it was “the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make”.
The eight employees affected by the closure “had hit rock bottom in their lives and have found redemption through fitness,” Kwon said.
He added that they will be offered positions as contractors for Confit Pathways, which unfortunately will not be full-time. news.com.au reported.
The gym’s social media pages have now urged members to attend the last class at 7am on Saturday.
A popular Sydney gym run by people who spent time in prison, Confit (pictured), which stands for Convict Fitness, will close on Saturday after opening in January.
Mr Kwon took to the gym’s Instagram page to break the news to his followers, saying Confit was a way to “help people who have been affected by the justice system”.
‘We created Confit as a social enterprise with a mission to reduce youth recidivism, a place to bridge the social gap by creating an inclusive community through fitness and also a place to break society’s negative stereotypes about ex-prisoners.’
Although the business did not survive the year, Mr Kwon added that he remains proud of the groundswell of support for “the work that Confit is doing”.
“To those who have been supporting and following the Confit journey and to all our members at the gym, we would like to send the biggest thanks and gratitude,” he said.
“Although we have decided to close and refocus our work, our mission continues.”
Social media users were shocked to hear the news of Confit’s closure.
Former bank robber turned lifestyle coach Jeffrey Morgan told Mr Kwon to “keep his head up” and “draw strength from his journey”.
Having worked on the other side of the cell as a prison officer, influencer Mel Jane wrote that Mr Kwon and his team “should be so proud of yourselves for everything you have achieved”.
“I wish the government would allocate more funds to meaningful things like this,” he wrote.
Founder and rehabilitated convict Joe Kwon (pictured) said the decision to close the gym was the hardest he “ever had to make”.
Others praised Mr Kwon and the Confit team for “leading with such drive and passion”.
“This is really sad news. I loved the difference the confit was making in the community,” wrote one.
“I know you’re going to continue paving the way for everyone,” said a second.
A third thanked the Confit team for their efforts “in the community, especially for our young people. Lots of love and all the best.”
