Gym builds community and wellbeing

A North East gym is helping men improve fitness while boosting mental health.

CTP Training, founded in 2023 by ex-professional footballer Connor Thomson, offers a male-only personal training facility designed to help men build strength, confidence and community. 

Located in Morpeth, the small group gym has already supported more than 150 men across the region.

Sessions are capped at 12 participants, combining tailored strength and conditioning programmes with expert coaching delivered in a supportive small group setting. 

Connor is joined by coach Craig Spooner, whose experience and energy help members push their limits safely. 

With sessions running six days a week, early morning to late evening, the gym accommodates busy lifestyles and encourages consistency without compromising work, family or other commitments.

Connor said: “I started CTP Training after realising the men’s group sessions I was running at my old gym were really making a difference. 

“Men were opening up, pushing themselves and finding mates who understood them in my classes. 

“I wanted to give more men the same chance. 

“Closing my old business and going all in with CTP Training was the best decision I ever made.”

Connor added: “We know walking into a gym for the first time can feel intimidating.

“At CTP, the second you step through the door, you’re part of the team. 

“You’ll train hard, but you’ll also connect, laugh and leave feeling on top of the world. 

“That’s the CTP standard.”

For Connor, the connection between physical and mental health is deeply personal. 

“I’ve struggled with my own mental health for a few years now and gone through hours of therapy,” he added. 

“That helped me massively, but training is the thing I rely on every day. It’s my therapy. 

“If I’m having a bad day, I get myself to the gym, move, and I feel 100 times better. 

“That’s what I want to give to others. The chance to feel like themselves again.”

Beyond physical fitness, CTP Training is structured around camaraderie and team spirit, reflecting Connor’s eight years as a professional footballer with clubs including Blackburn Rovers, Gateshead, Morpeth and Blyth Spartans. 

The ethos of accountability, support, and encouragement permeates every session, helping members tackle mental health challenges while developing resilience and self-belief.

Social events, football matches and Gamesday competitions extend the community beyond the gym floor, ensuring members stay connected and supported. 

For many, the most significant transformations are mental rather than physical, with improved confidence, renewed purpose and stronger social bonds cited as key benefits.

Long-time member Gavin, who has been with Connor since day one, said: “Being part of CTP Training keeps me motivated in a way no other gym ever has. 

“It’s a great group of lads and it feels like being part of a team that genuinely pushes you to be better.

“I’ve noticed huge changes both physically and mentally since joining two years ago. 

“At other gyms, I’d get bored and lose motivation, but here you’re training alongside people who all want to see change, and that’s powerful. 

“You don’t just turn up for yourself; you turn up for the group.”

“Members come in wanting to change physically, but it’s the mental changes that blow me away,” 

By combining expert coaching with a unique focus on mental wellbeing and social connection, CTP Training is proving that gyms can be about much more than fitness. 

Connor added. “The confidence, the resilience, the friendships. That’s the biggest win for me.

“Our vision is simple. 

“We want to keep growing and help as many men as possible. 

“Too many are struggling in silence. 

“Walking through our doors could be the first step in changing your life. 

“We’ll keep doing everything we can to make CTP the best training experience and the strongest community for men out there.”

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