Groundwork Empowering Communities

Project Title: Empowering Communities

Funding Received: £3200 (Phase 4: July 2022)

Project Outline: Through Groundwork’s Mental Health Partnership, Choices, Green Doctor and Restart programmes operating in the area they have identified that residents with long-term chronic health conditions perceive themselves to be distanced from opportunities to improve their fitness and to exercise.

This project will support the introduction of small groups of participants to safe exercise developed and delivered by experienced and qualified fitness coaches at the Fit4Life Rehabilitation Gym.  The ethos of this gym is that ‘fitness is for everyone’.  A friendly, safe environment is provided at each of their 3 venues in the area, supervised by qualified fitness coaches who specialise in working with participants with health problems including heart and stroke problems and diabetes. 

Participants will receive 10 weeks of intensive, tailored support in small suitably matched groups with the aim of progressing towards entry to larger group fitness sessions, other types of exercise and long-term exercise routines through the developmental nature of this programme, meeting a range of health conditions. 

It is anticipated that there may be anxiety around participation and the risk of non-attendance or withdrawal from the programme, therefore it is the intention to arrange suitable transport to the venue and participants will be accompanied to their sessions by Groundwork staff that they are familiar with already.  In addition, this funding will support the purchase any necessary fitness wear to support participants to feel comfortable engaging in physical activity and exercise.