The ‘rooted in Tottenham’ charity will receive £80,000 split across the next two years. This support will both extend HiH’s existing offers and create new sports-based extracurricular provisions in schools and colleges across the borough and in Waltham Forest.

By Omar Alleyne-Lawler, Communications and Police Engagement Manager

Hope in Haringey has been awarded a two-year, £80,000 grant by the London Marathon Fund to deliver sports coaching and workshops at three Haringey educational partners and at Waltham Forest College.

The LMF grant has allowed HiH to open a community gym at CONEL

The funding, which will come from The London Marathon Fund, will be used to support existing offers at Waltham Forest College and Harris Academy Tottenham. Additionally, the grant will allow Hope in Haringey to create new opportunities for Dukes Alridge, CONEL & Mulberry Academy Woodside.

Having been able to recruit new coaches for these initiatives, Hope in Haringey are now committed to the delivery of Girls and Boys fitness sessions for at risk year 9’s at Mulberry Academy Woodside and Dukes Aldridge Academy, netball sessions at Waltham Forest College and a community bootcamp at CONEl.

Trainer, Rod is on hand to coach attendees. Here he spots a young man during his set.

Additionally, the grant also allows Hope in Haringey to create open-to-the community fitness sessions at CONEL Tottenham, Mulberry Academy Woodside and two open-to-the-community activity sessions at Waltham Forest College.

So far these sessions have been both well attended and a positive impact on the young people. Since starting earlier in the year, Trainer Rod has seen a marked improvement for several attendees at CONEL’s community gym sessions. One story in particular was one of a young boy who started the year timid and teased by peers. In the weeks since, Trainer Rod has noticed a drastic improvement in his level of physical fitness which has subsequently transformed his confidence to where he is now having positive social interactions.

For another attendee, the community gym was allowing him to recover from a kickboxing injury which left him shaken and losing his sense of self. “Now when I come, I can train with [Rod] and [Tom] and get back into it.”

Speaking on the sessions, Hope in Haringey Operations, Finance and Counselling Manager, Tom May said “It has had a positive impact on my phusical and mental health. I like training with Rod because he prioritises long-term development and technique over lifting heavier weights.”