ARC Fitness to go full time after receiving £138,000 Lottery funding

ARC Fitness, which was set up two years ago by Gary Rutherford, has been awarded a massive £138,030 from the National Lottery Community Fund.

One full time role and one part time role will be created to allow the service to assist more people than ever before.

Gary, who is a mental health nurse, overcame drug addiction a number of years ago.

Fitness was a crucial element of his recovery and he established ARC Fitness to help others who struggle with substance misuse through a fitness training programme.

Since March 2019, over 40 people have completed the programme and continue to engage with the service.

Some of those who have completed the programme have now become voluntary peer support workers and assist with the ARC Academy online.

Gary said the organisation applied for the lottery funding to help make the service bigger.

“There were so many people on the waiting list and if we take it full time we will be able to run more programmes and get through the waiting list.”

The organisation recently announced a corporate sponsorship with local tech company Learning Pool.

This has been instrumental in creating the ARC Academy, an online platform, and allowing the service to adapt due to the Covid regulations.

It is also helping ARC Fitness go global as there are no geographical restrictions.

Gary said the lottery funding is a ‘dream come true’.

“It is unbelievable. When ARC was set up less than two years ago, I never expected we would be where we are now. I knew it was going to go somewhere, but never realised that the National Lottery and a reputable local company would believe in all that we do.

“We aim to put 120 people through the programme in a two year period. At present there are six people in each group, but we are hoping to upscale that.

“I love working with people who are struggling with substance misuse because it is what I know. Everything has just come together and I have loved growing something that is going to help more people.”

He added that the lottery funding will allow ARC Fitness to sustain and hopefully expand the programme.

“It is so exciting and I would like to look at family support, under 18s and working alongside statutory agencies in the future.”