Following a successful 12-month trial funded by South Yorkshire Police, Olympia Fitness CIC on Rutland Road has secured another 12 months funding via the Violence Reduction Unit (SYMCA) to run a 10-week fitness, wellbeing and peer-mentoring bootcamp.
The bootcamp is aimed at supporting people aged 16+ involved in, or at risk of, criminal or violent behaviour. The successful project is run by reformed offenders and professional PT coaches to provide mentorship. Through the last cycle of funding, over 40 people started the scheme, with 14 being supported to gain employment, 8 starting their own business, and 9 progressing to education/training.
MK, aged 22, says:
"Before starting on this programme I was dealing drugs and hanging around the wrong people. The project provided me with positive guidance, behaviours and support that I hadn't got in my life before. I learnt a lot about respecting myself more and that anything which 'comes quick' isn't worth having.
"I learnt the value of hard work from people I could genuinely respect. I'm now in a good job, away from negative influences and starting on building my own company. I'd recommend Olympia to anyone who is feeling a bit lost like I was."
The main impact of the scheme is a measurable uplift in behavioural changes, a renewed focus towards positivity and positive choices. We work with all participants on a one-to-one basis to help them and support them in articulating better long terms plans and provide 'hands on' support to help them get there.
Gareth Urwin, Consultant at GU Consultancy and spokesperson for the Olympia Fitness programme, says:
"The scheme is based around the concept of 'peer-mentorship' using ex-offenders, behavioural experts and fitness coaches to transform lives through fitness, mental resilience and education.
"The training is funded via the 'Violence Reduction Unit' and participants can enrol on the scheme while funded through other programmes such as UKSPF. The scheme has been shown to prove an excellent 'addition' to more mainstream employability and advocacy projects and we'd welcome increased partnership with the 'Employment Support' ecosystem in Sheffield."
Olympia also run a National Lottery funded 'fitness youth club' for people aged 11 to 16 and welcome any enquiries and referrals for either project, by emailing: garethurwin@outlook.com.
The team is happy to provide evidence of referrals to the scheme to support any 'development outcomes' that providers may have attached to their overarching employment contracts.
No comments:
Post a Comment