Speed Freaks Charitable Trust – Building Wellbeing and Inclusion

Established in 2021 by registered social worker Anna Christophorou, the Speed Freaks Charitable Trust supports recovery from addiction and mental distress through running, walking, and connection. Its programme grows community, health, wellbeing, and inclusion, and is delivered by volunteers and paid staff.

The initial Speed Freaks group began in 2017 with the first run group operating from Odyssey House Trust Christchurch, an organisation that provides therapeutic support and education to clients with drug and alcohol addictions. Now, the programme is available to residential and day service providers in Ōtautahi and Tāmaki Makaurau, groups have been established in Whangārei and Taranaki, and funding has just been secured to pilot groups in the West Coast Te Tai Poutini. The demand for services is high in many other regions.

CEO Anna is naturally proud of all that has been achieved in a few short years.

“On founding the charity, we had no idea that the kaupapa of the Speed Freaks would resonate with so many people. Nearly four years on and we hold 25 groups a week. Standouts have been the longevity of relationships. We are in the middle of undertaking research with University of Canterbury and the initial findings show that over 50% of tangata whai ora stay connected us for two-plus years,” she says.

Nurturing ongoing connections between participants and coaches and adopting a holistic approach to healing and wellbeing, where wider whānau involvement is encouraged, is clearly evident.

“Speed Freaks members from our original group of 2017/2018 remain in touch. This is tribute to our wonderful volunteer coaches who passionately support everyone attending our groups and earning their Speed Freaks t-shirt. We also celebrate our families and welcome partners and children. In Ōtautahi, we now have a rangatahi sessions for our families and whānau days where we come together for an activity day. Our last trip was Quail Island – a beautiful day with families connecting, one family spanning three generations, and coaches bringing their families too. Very special indeed,” says Anna.

Running has also been an amazing vehicle for gently challenging stigma that exists around mental health and addiction.

“Wearing a Speed Freaks t-shirt changes narratives. We regularly hear shouts of ‘Go Speed Freaks!’ We give back through acts of service and share the magic of connection and the value of lived experience through peer volunteers and our peer support staff. There have been so many wonderful things that have grown from the first run group. We call this ‘Speed Freaks Magic’”, says Anna.

Despite the huge achievements already realised by the Trust, it’s not without ongoing challenges. Securing sustainable funding is something that many charities will recognise as always being on the radar. The Trust is grateful to the J R McKenzie Trust for believing in the mahi of Speed Freaks early on – it’s helped to reinforce the importance of the kaupapa and provided encouragement in the early days.

“We are grateful for the support of JR McKenzie Trust and the impact you had so early on. The confidence that this provided for me personally was so important. Founders work very hard, and self-care can be challenging. Today we can breathe a little with a Board that is active in its governance, staff that go above and beyond in support of our 130 volunteers, and growing numbers of tangata whai ora.”

Plans for the future include building on the strong foundations already laid, listening to the community, and continuing to grow learning to best support participants, volunteers, and staff, so that more Speed Freaks Magic can be fostered and shared across the motu. You can follow this mahi on Facebook and Instagram, and there are a series of inspiring films available through the YouTube channel – learn more here.

“Speed Freaks journeys are inspiring, and this year we will  be sharing the stories of our community  participants, coaches, and staff. A final sign off…movement is a powerful tool for health and wellbeing,  movement with others even more so. It’s so much easier together,” says Anna.