features
sporta series: Local touch
In HCM March, we reported on sporta’s unsung heroes of the north-west of England. In this issue, we take a look at some life-changing community-focused projects being delivered by leisure trusts in the south-west of the country
MOBILE FITNESS
Organisation
Teme Leisure
Project
Outreach mobile gym
Church Stretton is a small, close-knit community nestled in the shadows of the Long Mynd in rural Shropshire, in an area of outstanding natural beauty that attracts the older generation looking for peace and tranquillity. Over 60 per cent of the town’s population are of retirement age and above.
While many residents are active, not only within the leisure centre but also outdoors, Teme Leisure was very conscious that the demographic meant a large section of the ageing community had physical limitations in regard to mobility, strength and co-ordination.
The local Mayfair Community Centre already offered falls prevention classes, but no extension or progression once this stage had been passed. After consulting with the Mayfair team, Teme Leisure therefore launched a trial 10-week programme in June last year, for 10 people who were identified from the falls prevention programme as requiring progression in order to address mobility, strength or general motor skills.
The trial – which was led by Teme Leisure’s health co-ordinator Kletos Trachonitis at the Mayfair Community Centre – proved highly successful, with all participants improving across all areas. All 10 also reported an improved sense of wellness. The trial included the use of mobile Technogym Easy Line fitness equipment, as well as core stability balls and wobble-boards, which were transported to the community centre in the back of a van each week.
“At the end of the 10-week trial, 40 per cent of participants were able to migrate to the leisure centre to continue their strength and conditioning training, again with Kletos as ‘the friendly face’ at the centre,” says Lee Hassan, general manager at Teme Leisure. “The scheme has now run four 10-week courses, all with great success, improving people’s health and wellbeing including weight loss, lower blood pressure, greater flexibility and improved lung function capacity.”
Teme Leisure’s next aim is to discuss this success story with the new director for health at Shropshire Council, with a view to rolling the service out to other local communities to improve residents’ health and wellbeing across Shropshire.
POSITIVE PARTNERSHIPS
Organisation
Tone Leisure
Project
Active Lifestyles Programme
The Active Lifestyles post at Tone Leisure was created in 2006, in partnership with Somerset Primary Care Trust (PCT), to develop and promote active and healthy living for all residents across Taunton Deane and offer opportunities for them to become more physically active. To ensure communities and individuals have access to local, community-based activities, a joint work plan was put in place in April 2010.
“Partnership working plays a huge part in our ability to offer the many initiatives that we do,” says Joel Chapman, commercial director for Tone Leisure. “We’ve built strong partnerships with local groups and hubs to ensure we engage with as many people as possible in those communities. The partnerships enable us to carry out needs analyses and consultations, ensuring initiatives are what the residents want and need.”
Tone Leisure’s physical activity strategy encompasses a variety of approaches to ensure it’s beneficial to both individuals and community groups. Its volunteer programme for example, which launched in April 2012, has 95 volunteers working in seven diverse roles with one common objective: creating physical activity opportunities for residents of Somerset. Roles include customer-facing and delivery roles – such as Health Walk leaders, leisure assistants and promotional assistants – as well as behind-the-scenes administration jobs.
NHS Health Checks is another programme benefiting individuals in a non-medical, community setting. The preventative programme is intended to help people stay healthy for longer, and provides an assessment of cardiovascular risk to all 40- to 74-year-olds who do not have existing diagnosed vascular disease, including chronic kidney disease, diabetes, renal disease or hypertension.
The programme, initiated and run by NHS Somerset, is delivered by Tone Leisure in a community setting to ensure targeted groups of people can access the free service at a convenient location. To date, more than 280 residents have received a check, which can lead to referral to their GP or advice on lifestyle interventions.
Flexercise is another initiative that runs across Somerset to promote mental health and wellbeing through regular chair-based activity. Originally designed to benefit older people in nursing and residential homes or sheltered housing, as well as older people attending day care centres, the 15- to 45-minute sessions also help people with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and rehabilitation after a stroke. The programme – which involves equipment, songs and games – can also benefit people at risk of social isolation or exclusion and people with, or at risk of, mental health problems.
Chapman continues: “Tone Leisure believes that, the more opportunities it can offer people in a community setting, the more it can contribute to decreasing the level of chronic diseases, as well as helping individuals maintain a healthy weight, body and mind, for health and social benefits.”
BUILDING INDEPENDENCE
Organisation
Circadian
Project
Choices 4 U
Choices 4 U is a day care provision scheme for adults with learning difficulties, hosted at Circadian’s leisure centres. The service, which is operated by South Gloucestershire Council’s Community Sport and Adult Day Care teams, aims to promote independence and build confidence.
A team of experienced staff are on-hand to support with activities, which are delivered at Kingswood, Yate and Bradley Stoke Leisure Centres for minimal costs to the local authority, saving money on day care provision while dramatically increasing a range of outcomes for attendees.
A support worker creates an individual plan for every attendee, highlighting their needs, goals and choices. Meanwhile the timetable of activities, which is based on the interests of the users, is reviewed and revised every nine weeks to meet users’ desired and shared outcomes.
Choices 4 U supports attendees to:
* Take part in activities that interest them and try new things
* Access leisure centre facilities to improve health and build confidence
* Spend time with friends as well as make new friends
* Think about work opportunities and get help and advice on how to do this
* Learn how they can travel independently with support from the Travel Buddy Scheme
* Develop independence and living skills
* Learn new skills through training
To date, 12 per cent of users are now accessing further education; 47 per cent are accessing leisure facilities independently; and 100 per cent are benefiting from increased physical activity, with a rise in knowledge around healthy living and exercise and a marked reduction in BMI.
There have been other notable successes too. Working in partnership with agencies, Choices 4 U has supported seven users towards gaining employment by raising personal expectations, providing information and guidance on supported paid work.
Nine users have competed in a regional competition with the National Boccia League and may be able to compete in the 2013 National Special Olympics. Eight users have competed in regional and national swimming galas, with four continuing to train with support from the Disability Development Squad. And, in partnership with the British Red Cross, 10 users have been trained in first aid and awarded an ‘Everyday First Aid’ certificate.
Choices 4 U has trebled in size in just over three years, serving more than 50 clients every week. The service is available to all adults with learning difficulties in the west of England.
Feedback from users includes: “I like being able to go off and do my own thing, but it’s nice to know someone’s there if I have a problem”, “Choices 4 U has helped me keep fit and active and has helped me to be more involved in my community” and “Choices 4 U is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
JUST A GAME
Organisation
Bay Leisure
Project
The LC Games
Taking place at Bay Leisure-operated The LC in Swansea, Wales, LC Games was set up to continue the Olympic legacy in Swansea. To date, more than 20 schools and 2,000 children have taken part. The project offers outreach programmes to schools, although so far all schools have chosen to attend the facility.
Each school can tailor the sessions to suit their needs and wants, and can use any of the facilities including the play area, climbing wall or any sporting activities like badminton, table tennis, basketball, netball, rugby and football. Mini Olympics and Multi Sports are themed for primary schools, while Fun & Games targets three- to five-year-olds. Access to the iZone – an interactive gym and workout area for teenagers – is also available, offering Expresso bikes that can race against each other and link to social media sites, as well as rowers, a dance mat, Wii Fit and a reaction wall.
“The free sessions have been a great success,” says Richard Proctor, CEO of Bay Leisure. “Many class visits have resulted in the whole school coming.”
The LC also runs Shape Up Plan, a nutritional and fitness scheme designed to help members lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way rather than crash dieting. Shape Up Kids has seen more than 60 children take part so far, with pupils educated in both fitness and the nutritional aspects of various foods.
