FLINTSHIRE Council and the Leader asked you to nominate businesses in Flintshire that have been working hard to bring you products and services during the last year of the coronavirus pandemic

You inundated us with nominations for businesses that have not only worked to provide services as usual, but who have gone above and beyond to support their customers and communities.

With lockdown measures likely to gradually to ease in the coming months, we are spotlighting those businesses that kept us going through the difficult times.

One such business is Aspire to Inspire Fitness, the winner in the mental and physical well-being category.

On year ago, Kathryn Jones' idea was to run her own gym designed for women, training mums that have a busy lifestyle, and working out fitness plans that can revolve around their day.

Then lockdown happened and Kat, realising supporting people with their mental and physical well-being was more important than ever, got creative to continue to deliver her service to both women and children.

Holding classes online along with fellow trainer Jordan Ford, known as Jude, Aspire to Inspire Fitness has become an important part of life in lockdown for many.

One person who nominated Kat's business said: "This business has really helped ladies and children especially throughout lockdown by offering Zoom fitness sessions. When allowed they also offered key workers a free bootcamp on a Wednesday. Fitness really helps people’s mental state and especially at such trying times like these. A group like this just for ladies is fantastic and it’s not only about fitness they are there with help and support as well.

Another said: "Aspire to Inspire have changed me for the better. They helped improve my suffering mental health through lockdowns and fire breaks. They are amazing and so supportive with my fitness journey. I’m Improving mentally and physically thanks to Kathryn and Jordan.

"I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. They provide so much encouragement in everything I do."

And another described Kat and Jude as "inspirational ladies never let us down and have certainly pushed wellbeing for a lot of people attending the classes a fantastic business that have work endlessly to keep everyone engaged and informed".

They added: "They certainly have gone above and beyond to help all their clients. I went from no fitness activities to three a week this is all down to this inspirational ladies who deserve the recognition."

Kat said it meant a lot to know how much her business was appreciated, especially during these challenging times.

She said: "It's made my day.

"Because we are a mobile gym we train with people in the garden but with lockdown we had to move everything to Zoom. We changed the timetable up so there was a variation in classes. My whole life has been Zooms. But it has worked, we have had some great transformations from it."

Talking about how the sessions had made a difference for clients, she added: "Just having the time, whether its 45 minutes or an hour, training to set them up for the day has really helped.

"Everyone's day at the moment is working at home or having the kids at home and home schooling, so just having that time for themselves has worked, and helped them get through lockdown."

To find more visit https://www.facebook.com/Aspiretoinspirefitness63