Thanks to more than £9,000 from the Coalfields Community Investment Programme, Houghton’s Muscletone Gym and Fitness will extend its services to offer a series of workshops for men aged 18 plus.
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 of the workshops as they would like.
Mick Dobson, Muscletone Gym and Fitness CIC, said: “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, added: “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.
For further details about the support we offer to former mining communities, visit our programme pages.