About Fitmums and Friends
Fitmums and Friends is a running club with a difference. We provide the opportunity for everyone to walk, run and exercise together to beat isolation and improve their mental and physical health.
Fitmums and Friends runs over 20 established programmes across Yorkshire including running & walking clubs, buggy sessions, support for the visually impaired, mental health support, complimentary exercise and bereavement support. We make our sessions as accessible as possible so that every single person in the community can come along and get involved without the need to worry about physical, mental or financial barriers.
Our Story
Fitmums and Friends was established in 2009 by Sam Barlow from her drive in Cottingham. “I realised I was missing the opportunity to meet and socialise with other parents. As a working mum I wasn’t in the playground very much and sensed I was missing out on the playground social scene! So, I decided to use my love of running to try and meet other parents in order to make new friends and develop a support network for future school life.”
By 2011, the demand for more groups meant that the next natural step was to create a way to help other groups to set up and develop. By 2013, there were an additional three groups across Hull and the East Ridings and a blueprint for creating a successful group had been established. By 2015, Fitmums had branched into an intergenerational choir, a cycle group and athletics sessions for children. Today, we have over 20 groups across North, East and South Yorkshire, specialist sessions for people with sight impairment, groups for parents/carers with little ones, and projects to support people after bereavement including specialist walks, yoga sessions and The Forest Project for young people.
Fitmums and Friends continues to grow and develop and provide safe, accessible and inclusive sessions for everyone who’d like to get moving.
Why choose to support us?
“I fluctuate in my anxiety and in my ability to "function" outside of work. This group has been a safe space, has been accepting of me and when I have not been able to be kind to myself it has been kind to me and has been non judgmental. It's offered me empathy kindness and opportunities I would never have accessed. THANK YOU SO MUCH .” Kristine, Service User
We are a long-established and trusted registered local charity and rely on the generosity of people and their donations to enable us to help as many individuals as possible. You can help us make a huge difference to the lives of people like Kristine. Every single pound enables us to provide the support people in your community need.
£26 could provide training for a Guide Runner to help someone with a visual impairment to be active
£52 could help us provide 1-1 support to people who need a little extra help to become part of a group and become more active