I’m Niamh Gill and I started Burn It about 3 years ago. I hadn’t done any exercise like this before and didn’t want to at all, my Mum forced me to go.  Fast forward 3 years and I am the fittest I’ve ever been, I am a Youth Academy leader and go to all the classes I possibly can. 

I have always hated sports and exercise; I barely participate in PE, and I hate team sports but at Burn It Youth Academy I have great fun and enjoy exercise. I work so hard and have friends who I do exercise with and have great support from the Burn It team. I know so many young people who do not enjoy sports and exercise as they aren’t popular, fear they can’t do as well as others, can’t run without stopping for a breather and at one point 3 years ago that was me.  Now I can run laps no problem, do any exercise given to me and do it with proper technique, thanks to Anna and the other instructors, and I enjoy it. 

In 2020 when lockdown hit, I struggled with my mental health a lot but with online classes and Paul trying so hard to get classes back, Burn It started again and running was my escape. Paul and Anna, along with the rest of the Burn It team helped get the in-the-park classes back safely and I rejoined, still as fit as I was before the lockdown. As classes passed and I kept up with Burn It, my mental health improved, thanks to lots of things but Burn It Youth Academy helped greatly. 

Earlier this year I was approached by Anna asking me to be the first Burn It Youth Leader and to begin helping with junior classes, it is still one of the things I am most proud of. Seeing young people like me a few years ago join and get fitter and improve with help from me and the rest of the team makes me immensely proud of them and myself.

As the oldest member of the Youth Academy, I will be moving onto adult classes in September and even though it is daunting I am looking forward to it and the challenge that comes with it. I could not recommend Burn It to young people enough. It is great fun, you make so many friends, get fitter and everyone is so supportive. If you or your young person wants to get involved and fitter or sounds a little like me, I would say that Burn It should always be your number one choice. Joining Burn It has changed my life for the better and makes me feel good and proud of myself every class I go to.