Javeno McLean gives free gym sessions to disabled people in Manchester
Personal trainer Javeno McLean has offered free gym sessions for people with disabilities at his Manchester gym for more than 20 years, helping them build strength and confidence.
The Full Story
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A personal trainer in Manchester has spent more than 20 years offering free gym sessions to people with disabilities and special requirements, including Down syndrome and autism. Javeno McLean runs the sessions at his gym, where participants are given a safe space to build physical strength and self-confidence.
McLean said: 'I'm a firm believer in everybody's got greatness inside of them. Everyone's got amazing inside of them. And I just try and get it out of people.' He said he enjoys watching people rediscover themselves, redefine their boundaries and show the world who they are.
The sessions have drawn participants with a range of conditions. Amy has cerebral palsy, Julie has muscular dystrophy, and Sharon is dealing with the consequences of a brain infection. For them, the exercises are not just about building stronger biceps. One participant said she had little to no confidence when she first started coming to McLean, and that he taught her how to live life again and accept the world as it is. Another said he had made her stronger physically and taught her to fight for herself again.
Sharon said: 'He treats people like people. He doesn't see my disability. He doesn't see my brain damage. He just sees my dreadlocks.'
McLean has more than 2 million followers across Instagram and TikTok and uses social media to spread his message. He said he was glad a video was going viral because it was not showcasing the Javeno show but the human show, and how humans should treat each other and be seen as humans and people. He said he hoped people watching his work would see that it is not rocket science. He added: 'I believe in gifts and I believe that I was put here to do this.'
The gym is described as welcoming and uplifting because it champions what people can do rather than what they cannot. Around the gym, the laughter muscles get the biggest workout, according to the feature. McLean was also named a hero of the week and is due to receive a mug in recognition.
On screen
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Key Claims
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| Claim | Channel 5 |
|---|---|
| Javeno McLean has more than 2 million followers across Instagram and TikTok. | |
| Javeno McLean has provided free sessions at his Manchester gym to people with disabilities and special requirements, including Down syndrome and autism, for more than 20 years. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The segment framed Javeno McLean as a Hero of the Week, focusing on his free sessions for people with disabilities at his Manchester gym and the confidence and strength participants gain. It mixed profiles of participants with McLean's comments about social media and human dignity, and ended with a light-hearted mug presentation. It did not question the scheme or provide wider context on disability fitness provision.
- “I'm a firm believer in everybody's got greatness inside of them.”
- “He treats people like people. He doesn't see my disability. He doesn't see my brain damage. He just sees my dreadlocks.”
- “I'm hoping people just watch the work that I do and just see that it's not rocket science.”
Who was on air
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- 17:34 BST
Broadcast Timeline
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