HIWCF awards SSJ money to support Re-Fit

Grant for Mountain Bikes will Benefit Service Users

Hampshire & IoW Community Fund has awarded £2,100 to the Society of St James and Re-Fit which will help pay for much-needed mountain bikes.

Re-Fit offers vulnerable people who have been affected by complex issues the chance to enjoy sporting activities such as long distance mountain biking trips – which helps with fitness as well as mental health.

The bikes which were being used by the team were starting to fall apart and required regular maintenance to work as they should. The new bikes mean the team will now have 10 new reliable bikes that can be used by team members on their road to recovery.

Ashley Christopher, Team Leader at Re-Fit said: “Being able to purchase the new bikes means we have secured the future of our mountain biking activities which are such a benefit to the service users.

“We get to see the benefit this has on the service users through improved mental health and better fitness – so these bikes will play a big part in improving the lives of those who are recovering from homelessness or addictions.”

The Society of St. James ReFit Project is run in partnership with Pompey in the Community and offers free educational, sport, and employment support activities to adults who are affected by the harmful impact of substance misuse, homelessness, poor mental health, and involvement with the Criminal Justice System.

Alongside the physical activities, we also offer many other opportunities for people to develop their skills and confidence, including access to training and education, with courses such as Health and Social Care, First Aid, Stewarding, Criminology, and Customer Service available.