A RECOVERY group has teamed up with local club Cumnock Juniors to provide walking football sessions.
Moving Up Moving On (MUMO) has been in operation for the past three years and works with NHS peer addictions staff to form the group for people misusing substances but who want to get their lives back on track.
The group gives these folk a safe environment to spend time with people in a similar situation, share their experiences and hopefully lead to a brighter future.
Many members have also started volunteering in the community.
The idea to start the walking football sessions came about when Derek King, from Cumnock Juniors Community Enterprise (CJCE), was approached about the possible project and he was more than happy to help out.
The sessions have been building momentum and have already made a huge impact to those who have been involved so far.
Carole Maclellan, from the Alcohol and Drug partnership, has been delighted to see how the sessions have helped so many already.
She said: “It’s great to see these people trying to progress their own recovery – and these sessions and activities give them that chance to keep safe and keep their recovery on track.
“They (CJCE) have been letting the guys use their ground and it has been building up a bit of momentum and it’s got other people engaged and brought them out.
“It’s great to see these guys who have been living alone for the past few years, especially with Covid, to now being out and alive and enjoying life.
“It’s all about some consistency. With the physical problems a lot of the people suffer from, exercise is sometimes out of the question.
“They all love football and this gives them a chance to let them feel like they’re 20-year-olds again.
“They’ve got a music group going as well, so there are loads of things happening that are helping these guys out.
“After being involved in helping to paint various things at the Woodroad Park, there is the feeling that they are able to give back to the community in some way.
“Although these sessions have only been running for a few weeks, the benefits have been incredible by showing the guys that they have a purpose again.”
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