A new series of health and wellbeing classes designed to support and inspire women through every phase of menopause is launching soon at BH Live Active, Littledown.
The first of four six‑week confidence courses, Rise and Shine, begins on Thursday 16 April 2026. The programme offers an inclusive, friendly space where women can build confidence, connect with others, and stay active.
The weekly classes start early and will include a different activity, ranging from circuits to Pilates and more in between; followed by a light breakfast with tea, coffee and conversation in Littledown’s Terrace Café.
Each week we will share content exploring different menopause related topics to provide guidance, reassurance and practical support.
Thanks to generous funding from the AFC Bournemouth Cherries Community Fund, the courses have been subsidised to make them more accessible to all.
The six‑week course costs just £20* per person and spaces are limited to 25 participants. More courses are expected to run between June and October 2026.
To register you interest or secure a place on the April course, email communityclasses@bhlive.org.uk.
Littledown is owned by BCP Council and operated in partnership with BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise.
On behalf of BH Live, Viv Galpin, Bournemouth Health & Wellbeing Manager, shared;
“Perimenopause and menopause can bring significant physical and emotional changes. We know that stepping into a leisure centre can sometimes feel daunting and may be the last thing you feel like doing.
Through our Rise and Shine courses, we want to make that first step easier by creating a welcoming, supportive space where women can get active together and improve their health and wellbeing”.
We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the AFC Bournemouth Cherries Community Fund, which has helped us create something truly meaningful for our community.”
The launch of Rise and Shine follows the success of BH Live’s Beat the Pause programme which continues to make a real difference to women’s lives across Bournemouth.
Initially funded by Sport England in 2022 to support women through fitness, wellbeing, and lifestyle guidance, this tailored health and wellbeing programme has gained national recognition for its role in championing exercise for peri-menopausal and menopausal health.
This underscores the importance of community-led programmes that give people the tools and confidence to thrive during menopause.
For more information about BH Live’s health and wellbeing programmes, visit bhliveactive.org.uk/health-and-wellbeing-activities.
For more information about Littledown, visit bhliveactive.org.uk/littledown.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
*£20 payable upfront and in advance to will go towards making this programme sustainable beyond the 6 months funding so that more people in the community can benefit from it.
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Daisy Saunders, PR & Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
About BH Live
Champions of community engagement, health and wellness across Dorset, Hampshire, and London
BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise, is a leading operator of sports and leisure centres, theatres, and event venues. Our vision is to create sustainable and inspiring opportunities, deliver great experiences for our communities, and improve health and well-being.
With a strong commitment to accessibility and community engagement, BH Live continues to enhance the quality of people’s lives, health and wellbeing in the communities it serves.
BH Live was established in 2010. Local authority partners include BCP Council, Portsmouth City Council, Croydon Council, and Southampton City Council.
We are at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy. Together with our partners we are helping to change lives and make a positive impact in the community.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us:
LinkedIn – BH Live
Facebook – @SocialEnterpriseBHLive
Instagram @bhliveuk
BH Live is a leisure and cultural trust, established in 2010 as a ‘non profit distributing organisation’ (NPDO) for public benefit to promote participation in leisure and cultural events. BH Live is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. Charity No: 1138311. Company No: 07092112. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. BH Live (Enterprises) Ltd, is a Private Company Limited by Shares and a wholly owned subsidiary of BH Live. Company No: 07175626. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. Registered Office: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. Registered in England and Wales.
About Littledown Centre
Littledown is operated by the registered charity BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.
Set in 47 acres of parkland, Littledown has some of the finest leisure, swimming, football and gym facilities in the country.
It is ranked among the top performing leisure centres in the UK, is accredited by quality scheme QUEST and is a National Fitness Award winner for the Local Authority/Leisure Trust Gym of the Year and finalist for the Best Group Exercise Gym of the Year.
It has more than 1.2 million attendances a year and is home to clubs including BH Live’s Swimming Academy, Swim Bournemouth, Littledown Juniors Football Club and Play Football. Indoor facilities include 25-metre and 17-metre swimming pools for lane swimming, public swimming sessions, pool-based classes and lessons. There is also a splash pool, steam room and sauna.
The venue has one of the largest gyms in the region complete with activity programmes for young people, and support for people recovering from an illness, injury or who are living with a long-term health condition. There are multiple training zones with ground level and lift access. There is something to suit every activity preference and level of fitness with cardio equipment, free weights and functional fitness training space. Hundreds of group exercise classes run seven days a week such as Group Cycle sessions, circuits, yoga, Pilates, HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) and Les Mills™ classes including BodyBalance, BodyPump, BodyCombat, BodyAttack, Sprint and more.
There is a large sports hall for events and multi-sport activities including trampolining, badminton, table tennis, football and gymnastics. Open to members and non members is Littledown’s Terrace Café (with soft play for under 5s) and Lookout at Littledown Bar, each with free customer WiFi. Here you can buy all sorts of snacks, meals and drinks to enjoy indoors or outdoors for al fresco refueling, eating, drinking and socialising.
Outdoor features include six floodlit 3G rubber crumb training pitches, grass football pitches, parkland for recreation and events, a cricket pitch and pavilion, lake, children’s playground, a paddling pool (open summer months only), outdoor catering and free customer parking for up to three hours seven days a week. Littledown Park is also home to Littledown Miniature Railway.
ANPR is in operation at BH Live Active, Littledown. Customers get free customer parking for up to 3 hours seven days a week. Charges apply for longer stays.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/littledown
Get social with us:
Instagram @bhliveactive
Facebook @littledowncentre