Low levels of physical activity in young people have been linked to increased rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease and poor mental health. However, it’s now widely known that the benefits of exercise go far beyond weight management or excelling in sports, as regular physical activity can contribute to a young persons’ overall development and well-being.
The FMG Project, situated in Brighton and backed by the Friday Media Group Foundation, runs two gym-based coaching programs to empower local youth. These programs are The Academy Programme (for 16-18 year-olds) and the Foundation Programme (for 14-16 year-olds). They focus on helping young people who face obstacles like mental health issues, learning disabilities, economic challenges, criminal backgrounds, and disconnection from mainstream education.
The Academy Programme equips participants with tools for personal growth in and out of the gym. Completers also earn a 'Coaching Fundamentals' qualification. The Foundation Programme imparts basic strength and conditioning knowledge and offers personalized weekly coaching and mentoring.
Both programs teach safe weightlifting, equipment use, warm-ups, cool-downs, and training planning. The Academy Programme adds weekly group and individual coaching, exploring core mindsets for navigating challenges.
The Foundation Programme provides weekly one-on-one sessions, giving feedback on attitude, teamwork, communication, and self-leadership. These aspects are monitored over ten weeks for both groups. Specific challenges are discussed, guiding participants to create their solutions, boosting self-confidence.
Thanks to our grant, The Starr Trust helped The Friday Media Group Foundation to extend financial support to both programmes, thereby engaging 20 young individuals who otherwise couldn't access such transformative opportunities.
*Focus Foundation awarded a grant of £12,909 to The Starr Trust. The Starr Trust was a beneficiary of the Focus Foundation Winter Ball 2023 and their chosen charity to benefit from the awarded funds was the FMG Project.
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