We’ve had 2 great Le Loop visits to charities supported by WWMT so far this month – and there’s another still to come. So if you haven’t yet seen a project for yourself, we strongly encourage you to try and find the time to join us for the final group visit to Palace for Life on 25th Feb. But if you can’t make it, please just take a couple of minutes to read this report on the 2 visits we’ve had and hear what our riders have had to say.
Our visit to Regenerate was a great chance for many of you to meet each other, share stories of training, nerves and more. Attended by one of our tour physios Shim, as well as WWMT Trustee Jonny Wates, there were plenty of chances to ask questions about the tour itself – but it was the presentation by Andy Smith – founder of Regenerate that really hit home. He was joined by some of the young people he works and really managed to get across just how important their work is in the community and the positive impact they can have on troubled young lives.
“It was amazing meeting Andy and seeing Regenerate … They do so so much with so little. Makes me really proud knowing funds we raise go to causes like this. Thank you for helping us sort out the visit, (we) really got a lot out of it”.
“It was lovely to visit this most inspiring charity on Monday – what an amazing story. Good to meet Andy, Jonny, Shim, several alumni and a group of other 2019 riders too. My wife and I really enjoyed it”.
Last night Kate from Le Loop HQ accompanied a visit to Pilton Youth & Children Project (PYCP) in North Edinburgh with a couple of the Scottish contingent of riders. They were welcomed by James and Katie who run the FACENorth project that is in its 3rd year of funding from WWMT. They have a huge range of activities all designed to offer alternatives to crime – from fishing locally, to their late night forays by minibus out of town from 11pm to 3am, just to keep the boys away from any trouble that might be brewing on the estate. From their youth club base, they provide counselling, activities, residential camps, sexual health advice and even English and Maths lessons for the youngsters who have fallen entirely out of the education system. The project has been running since 2014 and after 4-5 years of providing continuous support to these young boys, they are starting to see really impressive results: their offending rate has plumetted (and for many, ceased entirely), several are now at college or on apprenticeships and the older youngsters are starting to set good examples for the younger ones.
As ever James and Katie’s enthusiasm shines through. Rider Tony has this to say:
“What a terrific job they are doing to support so many young children. I was humbled, impressed and so motivated to do as much as I can to help them keep the centre fully operational”.
Our final charity visit details are below. If you can come along, please drop Kate a line.
And if you can’t make that date, but would still like to visit a charity, just get in touch with Kate and she’ll be able to arrange something specifically for you. We know how impactful it is to actually see the work of the charities in person and to meet the young people you’re helping, so we’ll always do everything we can to enable a visit.
Thanks to all those riders who have managed to find the time in busy lives to come along to a charity visit. And thank you all for your wonderful fundraising efforts so far.