Local residents and employees at The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RBCH), who are currently leading an inactive lifestyle and living with a long term health condition, are now taking part in a new health and wellbeing programme to improve physical fitness.
Funded by BH Live, Bournemouth Borough Council, RBCH, Active Dorset and National Lottery Funding from Sport England, the programme has space for up to 400 local people, who are currently not taking part in any physical activity and living with a long term health condition such as musculoskeletal and heart conditions, cancer, diabetes and obesity.
The programme started in October 2014, and already 35 people are enjoying the benefits around being more active. The RBCH physiotherapy team is referring people living with lower back pain onto the programme to potentially alleviate pain and ease symptoms. People will also be referred onto the programme by their health practitioner if they are living with other long term conditions, including diabetes, obesity and cancer.
Participants are getting a personalised activity programme, to include swimming, gym sessions and exercise classes. The promotion of health benefits around choosing active travel choices such as walking and cycling in everyday life is also being supported with weekly Nordic Walking sessions.
Participant Jacqui Bowden, said:
“I can see that this is exactly what I needed and I am feeling a few twinges from muscles that I’d forgotten I had!”
Elayne Attard added:
“The circuit class has been really enjoyable and given me the kick start I needed to get moving. It has a positive knock on effect in that I am now walking regularly to work and have joined another Nordic walking session. I have lost weight and feel so much stronger and healthier.
Dawn Smith concluded:
“After being rather inactive for a while after breaking my ankle in an ice skating accident, I didn’t feel ready to leap straight back into a full-on intense workout class so the ‘Make Your Move’ project was ideal for me. I have increased my fitness levels and even found some friendship along the way. I am now just about ready to return to Zumba and who knows what from there.”
To find out more about the Make Your Move programme and to see if you qualify contact the BH Live exercise referral team 01202 436821 and quote Make your Move.
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Notes to the editor
Bournemouth’s public leisure centres are managed by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council.
About BH Live
BH Live is the South Coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues – a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives. With over 2.5 million visits a year and over £31 million turnover, the organisation is changing lives – placing it at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy.
In 2013/14, BH Live hosted 423 shows, sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment tickets, clocked up 1.8 million leisure centre visits and welcomed 88,000 conference and exhibition delegates which contributed over £45 million to the local economy.
For further press information:
Elizabeth Symmons
PR & Corporate Communications Executive, BH Live
Elizabeth.Symmons@bhlive.co.uk
01202 451866