Fitness focus at Fresh Start thanks to fellow business

Through networking Groan and Tone owner Louise O’Neill was recruited by Fresh Start social enterprise coordinator Tina Gunter to work with the men in at the Northam Recovery Centre.

What has come from this is fitness sessions run by Mrs O’Neill three times a week at the gym facilities at recovery centre. 

Mrs O’Niell said her approach is about over-all wellness and not weight loss. 

“I sat down with the guys to set goals,” she said.

“I’m happy if initially they join in to blow off some steam but it is all about goal setting.”

The majority of the equipment used in the sessions is donated goods from Jetts in Balcatta but Mrs O’Niell said she is starting to incorporate things you can find around the home so that when the men graduate the program that feel as though continuing their fitness journey is possible. 

Mrs Gunter said when it comes to addiction you can often replace past behaviours with new ones and not address the underlying issues. 

“We don’t want exercise to replace the drug addiction,” she said.

“We want the guys to be able to address the mental side of things.”

The men are restricted to accessing the gym three times a week. 

Mrs O’Neill said the experience thus far has been a positive one.

“I can already see a change in attitude among the men,” she said.

“I feel very comfortable around them and hope to keep continuing the sessions into the new year.”