Wellness studio expands with community hub

A Sunderland-based wellness studio is launching a new community hub to make yoga and mindfulness “more affordable and accessible to all”.

Wellness Space, founded by Claire Lormor six years ago, offers yoga, meditation, breathwork and retreats across the North East. 

Now, with support from the North East BIC, Claire has launched Wellness Space Studio CIC, a community interest company aimed at removing financial barriers to wellness.

Working alongside teacher Rachel Stephenson, the new hub will provide weekly wellness sessions, beginner courses and workshops, offering flexible, low-cost options. 

A ‘pay as you feel’ model will also be introduced for selected classes, ensuring affordability for those on tight budgets.

Claire, who relocated to the North East BIC at Sunderland Enterprise Park in January 2024, said: “While the health and wellness industry has boomed post-pandemic, there are still many people who simply don’t have the finances to practice activities such as yoga. 

“However, we want to change that and make yoga a lot more financially accessible to everyone.

“By setting up a social enterprise, we can make a selection of our weekly yoga classes, as well as our parent and baby classes and meditation sessions more affordable and accessible to all, getting more people involved while helping improve lives in the process.

“We are so excited to see how it goes and would urge anyone who may be interested in giving yoga a go to come and see us. 

“Our doors are open to everyone.”

Anthony McDermott, social enterprise adviser at the North East BIC, added: “Wellness activities such as yoga can have such a positive impact on health and wellbeing, but it is often seen by many, for whatever reason, as an out-of-reach luxury.

“This is why social enterprises such as Wellness Space Studio are so important, as they help not only create jobs and opportunities for local people but also boost the communities in which they operate.

“It has been a real pleasure working with Claire and Rachel on the launch of the CIC and we’d like to wish them all the best for the future.”

The project is supported by the Wear Together Initiative, which has received £312,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, managed in Sunderland by Sunderland City Council.

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