Thanks to a £40,000 grant from the Walney Community Extension Fund, the Community Trust have made a positive impact to lives of local people over the last 16 months.
A team of lifestyle coaches have been deployed to deliver a Children & Family Wellness and a Men’s Health & Lifestyle Management Programme. The projects have addressed high levels of poor health in the local community and raise awareness to help tackle issues as poor diet, obesity, heart disease, low physical activity levels and cancer prevention as well as mental health and wellbeing. Another strand to the programme has been in providing employability, skills and training with the aim of getting people back into employment or education.
Ronan, aged 17, has completed a 12 employability programme feels the programme has completely changed things for him. He said: “I was staying in bed all day, bored and getting involved in things I shouldn’t. Being on this programme has become my life and I would do it all again.
“I’ve learnt new skills and a lot about myself and other people. I spent all my secondary school years in a specialist school and this has helped me think about my future in a more positive way. I want to work, I think about what I’m eating and drinking, I look after myself better, I’ve even started doing exercise and going to the gym.
“No-one has ever made me think about what’s good about me and the good things I do. I need to keep thinking that way now”.
The programme which is also being supported by Wyre Council and Healthier Fleetwood has brought together bring together residents, health and care providers, Regenda and local businesses to make a real difference to people’s lives. Since its inception over 130 individuals have been engaged.
Matt Hilton, Chief Executive of Fleetwood Town Community Trust added: “As a local community organisation we care passionately about improving people’s lives, and this project has made such a big difference”
Councillor Lynne Bowen, the Health and Community engagement portfolio holder at Wyre Council, said: “This is a significant contribution and an excellent opportunity for communities of Wyre not only for the immediate future but for years to come”.