Information Advice and Fitness CIC Start up

Hi Information Advice and Fitness is a Community Interest Company that aims to help people live happy, healthy independent lives by providing holistic assessments, economic, social, physical and mental wellbeing support.

We intend to offer help throughout Allerdale, with priority being given to older people and people with physical or mental health problems.

We are currently applying for funding to enable us to start trading.

Our Directors are:

Sarah Jackson (Wigton) who will be offering person centred exercises and help with form filling such as Blue badge applications, Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payments.

Jacqui Hastewell (Maryport) who will be offering psychology led mental Health well being sessions and help with benefits.

Judith Irving (Cockermouth)who will be running drop in activity sessions.

Councillor Alan Pitcher (Wigton) (non executive director)

We will be charging for our services to ensure sustainability, but as a not for profit company, any profits will be reinvested to expand our services.

I first came up with the idea for our company during the first lockdown, people's fitness was suffering as they were not able to carry out their normal activities, I was looking for another job as I decided being a postie was not for me and although I had several very positive interviews they did not lead to a job offer. In October I had to take time off work due to stress and I decided to try to make my idea a reality, I spoke to several ex colleagues and developed my idea.

Judith is an ex colleague , Jacqui is a customer on one of my rounds and Alan is a local councillor who was recommended to me.

Our first target will help us pay off the loan we had for our opening bank deposit, pay for insurance and DBS checks, and some of the other start up costs. It may also help us with our funding bids to the National Lottery and other places.

Thank you so much for your support, it will help us get up and running as soon as possible, we are constantly being asked when we will be starting.