Portsmouth scheme helping people back on their feet gets £165,000 boost

NEARLY £165,000 has been handed over to a charity providing sport activities.
By Ben Fishwick
Published 11th Mar 2020, 12:54 BST
Updated 11th Mar 2020, 13:29 BST
Society of St James chief executive Trevor Pickup Aysegul EpenginSociety of St James chief executive Trevor Pickup Aysegul Epengin
Society of St James chief executive Trevor Pickup Aysegul Epengin

The Society of St James's scheme Re-Fit was awarded the cash from The National Lottery Community Fund.

It works with vulnerable and disadvantaged adults suffering from addiction, homelessness, poor health and those who have offended.

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Since starting in 2013 the scheme has helped more than 800 people.

Now it offers gym sessions, badminton, football, table tennis, chess club and boxing - among other activities.

Gosport's St Vincent College helps by enrolling people on NVQ programmes.

Project lead Ashley Christopher said: ‘We are so happy that The National Lottery Community Fund has decided to support this project for another three years.

‘We know our programme saves lives by bringing meaningful activity to what can be a very unrewarding existence of substance misusers, offenders and those who are homeless.’