The North West team at BCL Legal are coming together to walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks (24 miles, ascent of 5200ft) on the 14th October 2017 for two amazing, locally based, charities. On the day we will be walking for Alpha House Calderdale based in West Yorkshire Inspire Women based in Oldham. Both charities have been established by family members of those working in the team as such we have a real connection to their stories. They are small charities that often struggle to raise funds – its these charities (amongst the many many others!) that make a real difference to the communities that we live and work within.

The vision for Alpha House is to break the repeat of the cycle of drug/alcohol use, offending, prison and release. On release from prison those with a history of drug/alcohol use are often desperate to remain drug free, but have nowhere to go except on the streets or back to their old drug using or drinking friends and inevitably back to their addiction. This has sometimes led to suicide out of frustration about their inability to break free from this dangerous cycle or premature death by overdose or gradually failing health. Alpha House is a supported Housing Project with an in house Treatment Programme. Alpha House provide support to those with a desire to change their lifestyle and become an industrious citizen; that is to say, a person who wishes to address all of their needs and to eventually return to work. https://alphahousecalderdale.org.uk/

Inspire Women came about to bring women in Oldham who had experienced difficulties and struggles together, turning ‘vulnerability’ into confidence and making a positive change to their communities. Established in 2012 by a group of local women, Inspire have created an empowering and nurturing space for women in the centre of Oldham. They have developed a beautiful space where women are not judged, where women don't have to pretend that they are holding everything together, where women feel connected, have a voice and are encouraged to become leaders of their own lives. https://twitter.com/inspireoldham?lang=en

We - as a collective - are incredibly grateful for any donations and sponsors that are received; big or small, they all count! So, please dig deep and remember, it's all for these two great charities where every pound raised really makes a difference to both the individuals and the communities that they live within.

We will also be doing other challenges before the end of the year so watch this space! Thank you for taking the time to read.

Lots of love, Mary, Nichole, Sam, Georgie, Clara, Juliet, Nick and Louisa xxx

https://alphahousecalderdale.org.uk/

https://twitter.com/inspireoldham?lang=en