In a London park, a group of young men laugh and talk as they work out at an outdoor street gym. It’s one of four run by Steel Warriors, a charity that takes knives off the streets and recycles them into gym equipment. Will Douglas stumbled on the Finsbury Park gym in 2020.

First watching, then chatting to gym users, he was struck by their variety – men, women, six-year-olds, pensioners, teachers, train drivers – and the camaraderie between them. Inspired by their positivity, Will started capturing images and stories at Steel Warriors sites across the capital.

Acrobatic action shots combined with sunshine-infused portraits and close-ups of ripped muscles point to the community spirit, as well as the sheer athleticism, on display – pushing back against stereotypes. These gyms offer so much – friendship and focus, strength, pride and happiness. It’s hard to believe the metal of those pull up bars, shining in the sunlight, once ravaged people’s lives.

Now it’s bringing them together.