Fitness sessions have an emphasis on fun

We all know running has the power to transform our lives; that the exercise itself makes us stronger and inspires others to run, that it can have life-changing effects on our mental wellbeing, and that it can give us a much-needed sense of community and friendship. But what if running was even more than that? What if we could use running as a gift?

This was the thought Nicola Miller had back in 2012. Nicola is the founder of A Mile In Her Shoes (AMIHS), a ground-breaking charity that  encourages women who are at risk of homelessness or affected by related issues to try running and fitness as a way of exercising, socialising, lifting confidence and boosting self-esteem.

Back in 2012, Nicola volunteered at a winter shelter and the experience made her want to do something else, to create something that would help women who are homeless. “I’m a runner,” she explains, simply. “And it has really benefited my mental health and lifestyle, and it had become a powerful thing in my life. So I thought maybe there’s something about that people could benefit from.”

But Nicola needed help with her idea. “I approached Crisis. The women’s officer there is also a runner, so she got it so quickly. We spoke to focus groups about what they would want from a fitness group, so this helped me identity the things that would get in the way of women running.”

She piloted it at Crisis in 2013, with people giving her kit they didn’t need, and going out at different times of the day to find out when worked best. “It was popular right from the start; within a year we were delivering sessions with various charities throughout London. The sessions were usually in local parks on my lunch break, with me carrying huge bags of shoes and kit, and it grew from there. Later in the year, I thought this wasn’t going to work on its own, so we got a charity together, which gave it some structure.”