\n Forge Fitness NW CIC, based in Rainhill, will use the funding to launch a new programme that uses exercise to improve mental health.\n<\/p>\n
\n The Connections project was awarded \u00a319,500 from The National Lottery Community Fund.\n<\/p>\n
\n It will offer free, holistic fitness and wellbeing sessions for 18 to 50-year-olds aimed at improving mental health, building confidence, and reducing isolation.\n<\/p>\n
\n Gary Crickson, founder and director of Forge Fitness NW CIC, said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Thanks to National Lottery players we can help more people who are struggling with their fitness or mental health.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Participants are encouraged to stay around after sessions to chat and have some light refreshments.\n<\/p>\n
\n “This project helps them build relationships with others facing similar challenges.\n<\/p>\n
\n “It’ll also help them create their own supportive circle of friends and peers whilst improving their fitness too.”\n<\/p>\n
\n The 40-week programme will offer two free group sessions each week, held at 9.30am on Mondays and Fridays, starting from August 3.\n<\/p>\n
\n Each session will be followed by a ‘Connections Chat & Cuppa’ where attendees can enjoy refreshments and conversation in a relaxed setting.\n<\/p>\n
\n The sessions will also include mindfulness, meditation, and other wellbeing activities to equip individuals with coping strategies for daily life.\n<\/p>\n
\n The programme aims to support more than 30 adults each week and foster new friendships, boost self-esteem, and create lasting social connections.\n<\/p>\n
\n Lisa Crickson, director at Forge Fitness NW CIC, said: “We want to thank National Lottery players for their support.\n<\/p>\n
\n “These sessions we believe will become a lifeline for the local community who are struggling with their mental health.\n<\/p>\n
\n “The free sessions mean that we have removed barriers to improving their lives which given the current rising cost of living and is important now more than ever.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, develop a support network, and build confidence through a combination of structured exercise and holistic activities.\n<\/p>\n
\n The funding is part of a wider commitment by The National Lottery Community Fund to invest more than \u00a34 billion into UK communities by 2030.\n<\/p>\n
\n National Lottery players raise over \u00a332 million every week for good causes, enabling the fund to award more than 13,000 grants each year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Forge Fitness NW CIC, based in Rainhill, will use the funding to launch a new programme that uses…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":583738,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[499,103,61,60],"class_list":["post-583737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fitness","tag-fitness","tag-health","tag-ie","tag-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/583737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=583737"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/583737\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/583738"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=583737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=583737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=583737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}