Join the Governors Charity Challenge & help raise £25k for the NHS!

A group of 6 people in a step-a-thon, 3 men and 3 women, walk towards the camera smiling. They are middle aged and dressed in blues and purples.

This autumn, Brighterway invites you to participate in the Governor’s Charity Challenge Step-a-thon. We’re aiming to raise £25,000 for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust! Please join us for this truly special fundraising event.

📅Date: Sunday 5 October
⏰Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
📍Venue: Victoria Park, Portsmouth

Poter promoting the Brighterway charity step a thon on October 5 2025

What is the Step-a-thon?

The Governors Charity Challenge Step-a-thon is a community charity walk led by Martyn Smith, Public Governor of HIoWNHS and stroke survivor. It’s part of his inspiring personal mission to give back to the NHS.

There’s no set distance – simply set yourself a step target, get friends and family to sponsor you, and join in. Every penny raised will push us towards the £25,000 target. All ages and abilities are welcome. It’s set to be a truly memorable day!

Close up of a woman's lower legs in running tights and running shoes, walking away from the camera on a tarmac path. Other people appear in the background, which features trees and grass. The image has a warm lens flare effect to frame right.

Why Take Part?

✅ Support an incredible cause – help raise £25,000 for Brighterway to fund projects that make a real difference in mental health and community care.
✅ Be inspired by Martyn’s journey – after surviving two strokes, Martyn has set himself the goal of completing 52 marathons, 250 km of swimming, and 2.5 million steps in 2025. He’s already ahead of schedule! Read more about Martyn’s story and achievements here.
✅ Enjoy fitness, fun & history – as you walk, you’ll also benefit from a free guided historical tour of Victoria Park and its Naval Monuments, thanks to our friends at Solent Original Walks.
✅ Get rewarded – every participant will receive a Brighterway goody bag as a thank-you for taking part.

Six middle aged men and women walk in a group, smiling and talking, dressed in comfortable walking and running attire.

How to Join

Taking part is simple:

Set your own walking goal – there’s no pressure, just walk what feels right for you.
Track your steps – using a step app on your phone (like Apple Health) or a pedometer.
Register your place – email phil.pride@southernhealth.nhs.uk or call 07572 147888 to sign up.

A Message from Martyn

“The Governors Challenge is part of my recovery journey and a way to give back to the NHS, who saved my life,” Martyn passionately states. “By joining the Step-a-thon, you’ll not only help me reach my £25,000 fundraising target, but you’ll be supporting a healthier, fitter community for us all. I’d love for you to join me – let’s step forward for a brighter way.”

A smiling man in swimming goggles and swimming cap stands in a swimming pool, resting his arms on the edge.

Take the First Step

Whether you come for the fitness, the history, or the cause itself, the Governors Charity Challenge promises to be a day of community, inspiration, and impact.

👉 Register now with phil.pride@southernhealth.nhs.uk
👉 Support Martyn’s journey and donate here: JustGiving page

Let’s step forward together with Martyn and Brighterway for our NHS.

A middle aged man in a cap stating 'The Long Road' stands in front of an Everyone Active gym with a wood facade and car park behind the man.

UNLOC Team Abseils the Spinnaker Tower for Youth Wellbeing

A smiling man dangles from an abseiling rope against a blue sky background.

Six courageous individuals from team UNLOC will abseil Portsmouth’s iconic Spinnaker Tower in a shared mission to empower young people. You can support them directly – or even join them on the abseil yourself!

On the weekend of 21 – 22 June 2025, six members of the UNLOC team will undertake a daring 100-meter abseil down Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower. This exhilarating challenge aims to raise funds for Brighterway, the charity of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust, supporting initiatives that enhance mental health and wellbeing.

“We’re so proud to be raising money for the amazing young people we are working with in partnership with the Hampshire and IOW NHS Foundation Trust,” enthused an UNLOC team member.

Let’s find out more about each team member’s unique motivation for taking part in the abseil – which is still open for registrations.

The Fearless Fundraisers

Jessica Cowling is passionate about empowering young people to lead on healthcare issues. She believes that providing young individuals with the platform to test their ideas is one of the most empowering ways to help them build life skills and spark meaningful grassroots change.
- Donate to Jess here.

Ben Dowling emphasises the importance of enabling young people to test out their ideas with real funding. He sees this as a truly empowering way to help them develop essential life skills while addressing some of society’s biggest challenges through genuine youth-led grassroots campaigning. “The Unloc team of staff and young people is ready to take on the Spinnaker for a great cause that will see young people taking the lead on shaping healthcare in their areas,” Ben stated.
- Donate to Ben here.

Laura Zamburlini is driven by the belief that giving young people the platform to test their ideas is one of the most empowering ways to help them build life skills and spark meaningful grassroots change.
- Donate to Laura here.

Katie Williamson is motivated by the vision of young people becoming changemakers. She states, “Young people in Hampshire deserve access to opportunities to help them become Changemakers in our world!”
- Donate to Katie here.

Beth and Daisy Hunt: Beth, an UNLOC staff member, and her daughter Daisy, a member of UNLOC’s Youth Board, are taking on this challenge together.
- Donate to Beth and Daisy here.

Meet Beth and Daisy – UNLOC’s Mother-Daughter Abseiling Team

Among the team are UNLOC staff member Beth Hunt and her daughter Daisy, who serves on UNLOC’s Youth Board. They’ll face their nerves – and gravity – side by side.

“Daisy and I are nervous but excited to do this challenge together,” said Beth. “I have a fear of heights, but I’ve conquered it before – I’ve done high ropes, and even a bungee jump in New Zealand before I became a mum! I love new challenges and experiences, and when this opportunity came through UNLOC, we both said ‘yes’ right away.”

She adds, “I’m so pleased Daisy will be by my side as we abseil down the 100 metres of the Spinnaker Tower. It feels like we’re doing something bold for a really important cause, together.”

They’re supporting mental health initiatives like the Young Activators pilot, a BeeWell-funded project that trains young people to create and lead extracurricular activities aimed at reducing loneliness, building confidence, and improving wellbeing among peers in Portsmouth and surrounding areas.

You can support Beth and Daisy directly here.

Supporting the Young Activators Project

The funds raised from the Spinnaker Tower Abseil will directly support UNLOC’s Young Activators pilot project, backed by BeeWell.

This initiative empowers young people to design and lead extracurricular activities that address issues like loneliness, low physical activity, and gender imbalances in extracurricular access. By supporting peer-led projects, the program aims to equip young individuals with the tools to connect, lead, and thrive.

Take part in the Abseil Yourself!

Ever wanted to conquer your fear of heights while doing something with real social value? It’s not too late to enter yourself in the 2025 Brighterway Spinnaker Tower Abseil!

For a £50 registration fee, all equipment and support is provided – Brighterway simply asks that you raise as much money as you can. They’ve recommended a £500 minimum goal, although there’s no penalty for not achieving the target.

About Brighterway

Brighterway is dedicated to enhancing patient care across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Their mission is to provide support for the NHS that goes beyond its core budget, funding projects that improve wellbeing, recovery, and independence for patients and staff.

Notable initiatives include providing Christmas gift bags to 780 inpatients across 65 hospital wards and units, and supporting the Social Inclusion Group, which helps individuals with complex mental health difficulties transition back into the community.

“I’m really looking forward to the abseil, albeit with some nervousness, to raise money for such a brilliant cause,” Mr Dowling concluded.

Creativity and Kindness: Art with Heart Raises Funds for Project W

Thanks to Portsmouth’s Project W charity, local women can access safe, inclusive spaces offering holistic support services tailored to their needs. And now Brighterway – in partnership with the Personality and Trauma Response Team and Together Space – are raising funds for the local women-led charity via their Art with Heart event on May 1st.

This unique and important event will offer beautiful handmade items in a creativity-fuelled community morning in aid of supporting Project W’s ongoing work with vulnerable women across the city.

What is Project W?

Running every Wednesday and Thursday in Portsmouth between 10AM and 4PM, Project W – Women Empowering Women – provides a supportive space where women can meet with recovery and family workers, receive peer support and consult with mental health professionals.

Project W is a collaborative effort involving organisations such as Advance, Portsmouth City Council, and the Society of St James. This partnership has been especially useful in assisting women experiencing substance misuse or sleeping rough.

The weekly Project W schedule will give you an idea of the diverse services, activities and resources available – there’s everything from acupuncture and alcohol abuse support to mindfulness, cost of living advice and even free lunch! A mental health nurse is available on the first Thursday of every month, and the charity provides onsite childcare every Thursday afternoon from 1- 4PM.

If you’re interested in attending, speak to your key worker or drop in during operating hours:

Days: Every Wednesday and Thursday
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: 67 Kingston Road, Portsmouth, PO2 7DX
Contact: 07464 981 060

‘Art with Heart’ – Raising Funds Through Creativity

Alongside the fundraising efforts of other local organisations, Brighterway’s Art with Heart initiative is your chance to make a real difference in supporting Project W. Attendees will be able to buy beautiful handmade arts and crafts, thoughtful Mindful Gift Bags, and a morning filled with creativity and community.

All proceeds will go towards supporting this vital cause – please come and join us, choose from some fantastic pieces, and donate to support Project W.

🗓 Thursday 1st May 2025

🕙 10AM–1PM

📍 The Greenhouse, Victoria Park, Portsmouth

💻 If you can’t make it, there’s still the chance to donate and support the event online via JustGiving. Your donation will go directly to Brighterway, helping support Project W’s ongoing work with vulnerable women across the city.

Join us in creating change through creativity. 💛