Hope and Vision Communities
Places Leisure and Hope and Vision Communities join forces!
We’re proud to be partnering with Hope and Vision Communities by offering access to our facilities within Wokingham to help supporters fundraise for the charity.
Hope and Vision Communities work with men after they successfully leave treatment for addiction but need a new place to go to continue in their recovery. 85% of people in recovery lose their home, so it’s at this point where they need the most help and are most at risk of relapse.
Created by Tony Attwood in 2020, with the judge who previously jailed him, Peter Ross, the charity rents houses on behalf of their residents so that they have a safe place to live when they move on from rehab. Despite the many differences between Tony and Peter, they share a deep understanding of what it takes to break the cycle of addiction.
Living in family sized homes, there’s a real sense of camaraderie with men cooking meals together, volunteering together and supporting each other through the ups and downs of life.
During November 2023, the charity is taking part in the 21 Peaks Challenge to raise money for more men in recovery who require support. The challenge will take Tony and the other participating residents to the top of some of the Lake District’s highest peaks.
As part of our commitment to create healthy people and thriving hubs, both in local and wider communities, we are offering access to our facilities within Wokingham* for 12 weeks to 20 of Hope and Vision’s residents to support their training and recovery from the challenge.
Our partnership is set up with the view to work with the charity in the future on our Healthy Communities Projects, this includes a men's Boxercise for Mental Health programme we hope to launch in 2024.
Molly Hale, Contract Healthy Communities Manager - Wokingham at Places Leisure, said: “Places Leisure are proud to launch a new partnership with Hope & Vision as part of our commitment to creating active places and healthy people for communities to thrive. Physical activity can support the management of health issues associated with long-term drug and alcohol addiction, and reduce anxiety, depression and stress which are common factors which may lead to relapse.”
“Our partnership with Hope & Vision will not only enable help individuals manage their own wellbeing but will also support their training for the 21 Peaks Challenge to raise vital funds necessary to reach more men in need of support.”
To launch this exciting partnership, members from Hope & Vision attended a boxercise session at our new facility, BXGFIT. Danny Williams, Olympic and Commonwealth medallist in Judo and one of Hope & Vision's Ambassadors, also attended.
Read more about Hope and Vision’s work here.
*Wokingham Leisure Centre, Arborfield Green Leisure Centre, Bulmershe Leisure Centre, Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, Ryeish Green Sports Hub, St Crispins Leisure Centre, and BXG Fit