Pop-up gym and womens fitness champions planned for this "marginalised" area of Penwortham
A ‘transformative’ project to change the lives of women in a low-income area has been launched.
Kay Johnson of social enterprise The Larder has teamed up with Lyn Clement, owner of Tribe Fitness, to launch the Kingsfold Fitness Champions project - and your help is needed.
What’s it all about?
The aim is to empower women in marginalised communities through fitness and health. The project will train a team of 10 Fitness Champions to offer free and subsidised exercise classes to people on low incomes in Kingsfold.
The proramme will run from Kingsfold Community Centre where a pop-up gym will be housed, and will be built around accredited qualifications, with women who want to become self-employed supported to do so. But to do this, £30,000 in crowdfunding is needed to get it off the ground.
Why Kingsfold?
Kay noticed issues in women’s physical and mental health needs after working at Kingsfold Community Centre delivering food champions courses. After talking to the town manager, she then began a conversation with Lyn, who has helped Kay’s own fitness journey while recovering from ill health.
Kay said: “We know there’s an issue here, we’re not going in just saying these things. There’s high unemployment rates in Kingsfold and most of the housing is housing association. There’s also lots of drug-related issues and a hoodie culture in teenage boys.”
Lyn continued: “Women in general are more vulnerable in these situations, and whether that is a reality for people or perceived, it affects health. These boys going around also have mums who are struggling. So lets train these women up, put the power back into their hands, and then they have the potential to deliver programmes to young people if they want to.”
Kay added: “This project has the potential to transform women’s lives by providing opportunities they wouldn’t normally have. By offering accredited qualifications in Fitness and Nutrition, this project will provide women in Kingsfold with access to employment opportunities, which will have a lasting effect on generations to come.
“This project will educate women in nutrition, physical and mental health where there is currently a gap in provision and will empower women who want to take control of their own health and support people in their local community.”
Additional elements to the main programme will include an introduction to counselling course, leading health walks and menopause talks. The project will be delivered in four phases over 12 months.
It’s hoped that the pilot scheme can be rolled out across Lancashire.
For Lyn, there’s also a special, personal reason to get involved. Her late father, Councillor Derek Clement, originally fought to save Kingsfold Community Centre from closure. She said: “It’s a big thing to me, to make it work and be useful in the community.”