Thanks to more than £9,000 from the Coalfields Community Investment Programme, delivered by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Muscletone Gym and Fitness, based in Houghton, will extend its services to offer a series of workshops for men aged 18 and above.
The project, which will run for 40-weeks, will engage with those that have disabilities including mental health issues, low confidence and low educational abilities.
The flexibility of the programme, which has secured £9,318, will deliver hour-long sessions, four times a week, giving those attending the chance to access as many or as few of the workshops as they would like.
Mick Dobson, Muscletone Gym and Fitness CIC, comments: “The health and wellness of residents living in coalfield communities is an ongoing worry, particularly when it comes to mental health. There can be lots of reasons why people find that they are struggling and that is why we want to deliver this project and to make a real and lasting difference to people’s lives.
“Without this funding we simply couldn’t have gone ahead, so we very much appreciate the support that has been given which has allowed us to proceed with this project.”
Chief Executive of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Gary Ellis, comments: “The five-year strategy that we have recently launched made it clear that the challenges coalfield communities face are often similar and sit within three priorities for action; Employment, Skills and Health & Wellbeing.
“As a result, we made it our mission to tackle these issues head-on and that is why offering funding to organisations like Muscletone Gym and Fitness CIC gives us the opportunity to have a stronger and more wider reaching impact.
“We really do hope that men from across the area will access the workshops and that they take the first steps towards a brighter future.”
As Muscletone Gym and Fitness CIC has become a member of Coalfield Community Investment Programme it will continue to be supported by the Trust and will receive bespoke practical support that includes everything from access to resources and services such as help with third-party funding applications and bid-writing, to tips on effective promotion and marketing.
Delivered by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, the Coalfields Community Investment Programme supports organisations and programmes of activity that meet with three key criteria; to address skills, employment or health and wellbeing.
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust was established in 1999 and is the only organisation dedicated to supporting former mining towns and villages.
Over the years more than 2m people have benefited from support delivered by the organisation. More than 25,500 people have been supported into work, 5,500 jobs have been created or safeguarded, 1.3m people have received the necessary support to help improve their skills and gain qualifications and over 250,000 people have participated in activities that have improve their health.
