Empowering Marginalised Communities Through Exercise
Come and join our community
Our Story
Mind Body Connect is a registered charity (No. 1173834) founded in 2014. We empower marginalised communities through the medium of exercise. Our current exercise repertoire includes strength training, circuit training and strongman/woman. We work with groups including people in recovery from addiction, survivors of human trafficking, homeless young adults and various mental health support groups. We have helped hundreds of service users and seen first hand how effective physical exercise can be for people that have been through difficult times.
Our programme was born from our directors experience of working in a residential rehabilitation centre which led to a PhD on the effects of physical exercise on addiction. We support our service users in gaining coaching qualifications. Many now deliver our programmes. This is something we are very proud of.
We shall continue to grow helping more service users improve their physical and mental health and take healthy, positive steps forwards.
Many of our programmes are open to the public and our elite strength coaching team has a stable of athletes and private clients. Come and lift with us. From absolute beginners to national level strength sport athletes, we can help you achieve your goals
Thank you for visiting our page.
Paul Smith, Lead Strength Coach, Worlds Strongest Man Competitor 2018, Junior Worlds strongest Man 2017, England's Strongest Man 2016.
Current Timetable
Wednesday 4pm - 5pm: MMA for people at risk of homelessness
PRIVATE SESSION
Friday 1:30pm - 2:30pm: Circuit classes for people in recovery from addiction
PRIVATE SESSION
Saturday 1:30pm - 4pm: Strong Saturdays entry level strongman/strongwoman programme
OPEN SESSION
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South Yorkshire Housing Association WorkWell 1-2-1 coaching sessions
Available all week to WorkWell customers
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Pending January 2026: UpLift Women's only domestic violence survivor strength classes
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Individual coaching sessions with our team are available upon request
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If you represent a charity and think we could empower your service users then get in touch
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Our Core Programmes
Strong Saturdays
Strong Saturdays is an open session with experienced coaches and a great atmosphere. Come and try out our competition spec strongman equipment. Whether you are looking to compete or just try something new, we've got you.
Circuit Classes
Our Circuit Class programmes are tailored to the needs of individual service user groups. For example, we balance the learning of compound movements with cardiovascular threshold work and flexibility drills developing the foundational fitness of addicts exiting detox. The intermediate programme we run for this group builds upon this providing a supportive community focused on individual goal completion. For recovering addicts, our circuits are a place to belong and increase self-confidence precisely when most needed: during the rehab-community living transition when relapse risk increases.
Strongman/woman Circuits
A mid-week, one hour, high intensity circuit using the full range of traditional strongman implements to build total body strength, power and fitness. This class is run by Worlds Strongest Man Competitor Paul Smith.
The class caters for all levels from novice to elite. If you can't give up your Saturday to join us for our 3hr Strong Saturday Programme but want to experience the Strongman events and methods then this is the class for you. You'll experience an authentic taste of strongman training in a fun and supportive environment.
Our Coaching Team
Paul Smith
Paul is MBC's lead strength coach. He is also quite strong! He has competed around the world including the Worlds Strongest Man Competition.
Paul won Englands Strongest Man 2016 and the World's Strongest Junior 2017
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He is available for individual and group personal training sessions.
Nathan Kirby
6 years training MMA and BJJ. Advocate of exercise and martial arts as a means to build character, and empower people to develop themselves holistically.
Firm believer in martial arts being accessible to all levels, with the only important attribute being willingness and consistency.
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MMA for people at risk of homelessness class
Every Wednesday.
Chris Fitzgerald
Chris is the MBC director, our model of change is based upon his research.
He has competed in weightlifting, powerlifting and
strongman.
He is a two time British natural (U105) finalist.
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He is available for individual and group personal training sessions.
Vicki Wilson
Vicki is a former captain of Sheffield Steel Roller Derby and the strength and conditioning coach for Sheffield Steel Juniors.
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She has competed in powerlifting, weightlifting and strongwoman - and now specialises in bringing newcomers into the gym environment and creating small group classes/communities.
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Vicki shall be running our women's strength group of survivors of domestic violence which starts in January 2026.
Sam Cripps
Level 4 ​Strength and Conditioning
Level 4 Nutrition for Fitness
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2 years coaching experience using strength training and martial arts to help people in their drugs and alcohol recovery journey.
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Competed in Muay Thai, Olympic Lifting and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
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Sam runs some of our circuit classes.
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