Big £250k Lottery Fund Community Cash Awards – in conjunction with the Lancashire Telegraph

Help us make a difference to the lives of young people in your community – vote for Proffitts!

In 2012, Proffitt’s began work on an exciting new project called MMB -‘Military Mountain Bikers’ – which aimed to help military families integrate into the local community. The main focus of this project is to employ and train a core group of ex-military personnel who will offer mountain bike tuition, training and other activities, to young people, veterans and community groups throughout the Rossendale community. With the support of Rossendale Borough Council, a suitable base at Stubbylee Park in Bacup was secured and this is now where sessions take place. With funding from The Poppy Factory, Proffitt’s were able to recruit ex-soldier, Martyn Gibbons MBE, to co-lead the project. Despite suffering serious leg injuries in Afghanistan, Martyn has found mountain biking to be a valuable tool in his recovery and on-going rehabilitation. Through offering the same opportunities to others, Martyn hopes that the MMB project will inspire others to reach their own potential and give them the opportunity to enjoy this exciting outdoor sport. If we were successful in receiving additional funding from the Big Lottery Fund, the MMB project would aim to deliver mountain bike training to a range of groups and organisations with a focus on young people. This would have a massive impact on young people in the area:
– They would have the opportunity to take part in a sport they may not have had access to
– They would gain a better understanding of the social and economic benefits of adrenaline sports, such as mountain biking
– It would challenge and change their perceptions of disability (all MMB instructors will have some form of injury/disability)
– It will provide them with the opportunity to meet ex forces personnel, thus learning about the sacrifices they have made in their line of work and any difficulties they may have faced when returning to civilian life.
Other benefits of this project include:
– Creating four new jobs
– Help wounded, sick or injured military personnel integrate back in to civilian life
– Creation of one new social enterprise
– 1000’s of training opportunities

This is a unique and compelling project and it will be the first time that ex forces have helped to provide activities in this way. We need your vote. The community needs your vote. Let’s make this project happen!

All you have to do is buy a copy of the Lancashire Telegraph between Monday 9 September – Saturday 21 September. Simply cut out the coupon, fill in your details and include your vote for Proffitts/MMB project. Then send it off to the free post address – it’s as easy as that and will only take a few minutes of your time. Unfortunately there is no option to vote online so it is a must that you buy a copy of the paper in this two week period. And even more important that you cut out the coupon and post it off in time!!! Thank you in advance. Every coupon counts and we appreciate the time and effort you have taken to help make a difference.