A few months ago, I completed a charity challenge for the Bone Cancer Research Trust – to swim 10k in a month. The charity had a partnership with a chain of gyms which offered low-cost access to their swimming pools to help fundraisers complete the challenge. I was hooked! (A great example of partnership working where Bone Cancer Trust, the hotel chain and the fundraiser all benefitted!)
So, I went on to join the gym – making use of their charity workers’ discount. I was able to join with off peak membership due to the flexible working policy at Action Hampshire, and it also coincided nicely with Action Hampshire implementing a shorter working week, so my full-time hours became 35 hours a week.
This means I can take full advantage of spin, yoga and pilates classes in the middle of the day, starting earlier or working later. It really helps me feel calmer and happier.
I know not everyone can afford the time or money for a gym membership, I’m very fortunate. I’m grateful for flexible working practices and charity worker discount schemes. It’s also why I think VCSE organisations offering low-cost activity sessions are amazing! Many of you provide really good opportunities for the people who join your activities to get moving – whether that’s a community garden project or a health walk, like some of the organisations on our Greening for Wellbeing project, or by including fun games in your other activities.
I love seeing some of the ingenious games being used in care homes in videos like this one – follow the link here
Do you have fun games you do with your community groups that you’d like to share?
…We would love to hear about what you are doing – share your experiences either by emailing us helena.kondziela@actionhampshire.org or tagging us on social media.
Mental Health Foundation have posted about the mental health benefits of physical activity. Locally, Hampshire County Council and EnergiseMe have developed the Live Longer Better Hampshire website
Whoever we are and however we do it, moving more is good for us all, how can we give ourselves permission to, and support others to as well?
