PROJECT EXAMPLES: Comments

Examples of comments received on comment cards: • It’s great for a 78 year old, it helps my joints – PhysicalPhysical ActivityActivity willwill havehave Short Mat bowls Churchill Hall • It’s perfect, I feel more relaxed, more positive and I sleep ImmediateImmediate PositivePositive better – Women’s Yoga – Ditton Community Centre EffectsEffects onon Health!Health! Get Active Project Review • The walk leaders are very supportive. I have lost weight, toned up and have more energy – Health Walks Runcorn 2016-17 • Great class and the teacher is very motivating, my fitness Tai Chi Health Walks has improved – Kettlercise Frank Myler Pavilion • It’s a very sociable activity, everybody enjoys it and I have gained greater co-ordination – Zipper Club Grangeway Community Centre • A Good all-round workout with a gentle approach for all abilities. I have improved mobility and have more energy – Stay Fit class Frank Myler Pavilion • I don’t feel down in the dumps as much now – Movement Therapy Castlefields Community Centre Yoga Zumba • It’s a fun way to exercise and makes me want to exercise more – Hoopfit class Frank Myler Pavilion

Get Active 2016:

0151 511 8550 Thanks to National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Community Sport Activation Fund, Halton Borough Council has encouraged 5869 participants to try a new sport/physical activity Metafit Pi Yo session, registering over 70,860 contacts. The project has left a lasting legacy of activity classes across Halton.

Halton Borough Council’s Sport Development Team implements a number of far-reaching development Other Activities: programmes, working in close consultation and partnership with a range of national, regional and local organisations, Various activities are available throughout Halton; request a Get including, Sport England, National Governing Bodies and Chair-based Active Timetable, Social Sport Timetable, Exercise Trends Halton Sports Partnership. The Councils projects now exercise Table Tennis Timetable or Health Walks schedule for further info. There are operate under the Active Halton brand, working in different over 100 weekly activities available throughout the community. ways to get more people active through sport and exercise.

The information contained in this review reflects a snapshot Taster Sessions: of work carried out in 2016-2017 and is not a comprehensive report. Taster exercise sessions can be provided for targeted groups wishing to try an exercise class. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: New Age For further information on any projects featured in this Bowls football The Halton Leisure Card publication or to discuss ideas for new Active Halton projects please contact: The Halton Leisure card entitles residents who receive certain Paula Parle on: 0151 511 8550 benefits to reduced admission charges to a wide range of Email: [email protected] services from to museums. For further information Web: www.activehalton.co.uk on Halton’s Leisure Card call Halton Direct Link on Follow us on Twitter: @HaltonGetActive 0303 333 4300. Follow sport activities on Twitter: @haltonsportsdevelopment New Age Kurling Kettlercise Select Security Stadium Halton, Lower House Lane www.activehalton.co.uk Widnes, WA8 7DZ Get Active in Halton Getting More Active Can: Case Study Christine Smith: Tai Chi class at Frank Myler Pavilion Mamafit

The Get Active program worked alongside mamafit in 2016 to Halton’s Sport and Physical Activity Development “I found myself; • Give you more energy establish new classes for pregnant mums and mums with Officer operates the Get Active project in I had been lost for many years” babies in Halton. order to create a more healthy and vibrant • Help you stay a healthy weight Research shows exercise and appropriate nutrition during community in Halton, by increasing What was Your Starting Point?: • Reduce stress and post pregnancy has many positive benefits, including; participation in Sport and Physical Activity. Following a stressful few years I suffered a heart attack. • Improved fitness levels • Improve your social life My confidence was knocked completely; I found it difficult to • More energy to complete daily tasks The project works in partnership with • Help you sleep better talk to people, let alone go to an exercise class. I completed the • Easing of back pain community organisations and voluntary groups. cardiac rehabilitation course where I picked up a leaflet about • Improved mood & sense of wellbeing Working with partners from all sectors • Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease Tai Chi classes. • Healthy for mother & baby ensures joined up working. • Reduce blood pressure • Improve mental health and wellbeing Actions Taken: Mamafit® pregnancy is a 6 week exercise and lifestyle course • Increasing levels of physical activity and I had wanted to try Tai Chi for many years and although I was for pregnant women. participation in sport and exercise feeling very apprehensive about exercise following my heart Mamafit® postnatal is an exercise and education course for • Consulting with members of the local Get Active Forum Halton Awards & attack, and indeed turning up at an unfamiliar place and meeting new mums and babies. community and health professionals Celebration Evening 2016 new people, I did go along to Tai Chi. The group where so • Developing community based physical friendly and welcoming and the coach is excellent. activities and opportunities Health Walks • Promoting the benefits of physical activity and sport The Get Active Forum Halton bring together Achievements: and support people who represent community Walking for Health is a national walking programme run in It has given me back my confidence and improved my health. activity groups in Halton. The community partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support and the “Who would have guessed that such gentle movements could Physical Activity Recommendations groups support people to be more active and Ramblers. make such a difference?” My stamina, flexibility, balance and lead healthier lifestyles. co-ordination have all improved. I feel like I have toned up my Walking is the most popular physical activity and has the lowest body and my brain, and I am a much calmer person now. As an • Adults should aim to be active daily over a week, The Awards and Celebration Evening is an barriers to entry and the lowest safety considerations; it is asthma sufferer I have also noticed that my breathing has activity should add up to at least 150 minutes of opportunity for Get Active community groups encouraged by NICE clinical guidance for people with long improved. My sisters tell me that I am a much nicer person moderate intensity activity in bouts of 10 minutes or to get together, enjoy a social evening whilst term health conditions. Additionally, studies have shown that now; I’m more confident, positive and out-going. Tai Chi is more. One approach would be to do 30 minutes on at celebrating success. one in four patients would become more active if advised by a “Me-Time” and I’m worth it. Losing one and a half stone has least 5-days. GP or nurse. Halton Get Active and Murdishaw Health Centre been a bonus along the way. • Adults should also undertake physical activity to Jenny Devaney won Participant of the Year have teamed-up with the national team to deliver a pilot improve muscle strength on at least 2-days a week. 2016, whilst Derek Gates won Volunteer of the Is there anything still to achieve? project to test a protocol which helps facilitate primary care • All adults should minimise time spent being sedentary Year. professionals to identify inactive patients and signpost them to I want to keep fit and lead a long full i.e. sitting. their local Walking for Health scheme. • Moderate intensity should make you feel warm and happy life. slightly out of breath but still able to Haltons Volunteer Health Walk Leaders operate a weekly Free Activity and Promotions I would like other people to realise hold a conversation without schedule of health walks in various locations across Halton and the benefits of the Active Halton gasping for breath, such as brisk each walk is generally around one-hour. A new short walk of program and not to be afraid of walking. just 30-minutes has been developed for the pilot project at The “Summer Fit” and “Workout Wednesday” promotions trying a new class, the support is • Physical inactivity is the fourth Murdishaw Health Centre and was launched in February 2017. largest cause of disease and during July and August 2016 saw a variety of free exercise amazing. classes operate every Wednesday evening in Widnes and disability in the UK Log onto www.walkingforhealth.org.uk for further info Runcorn giving residents the opportunity to try new classes.

“Chill out Fridays” during September , Parkrun and Couch to 5K Health Improvement Team and October offered a way to Running, and walking is more popular than ever in wind-down at the end of the week with Halton. With a full weekly program of Health Walks, Parkruns, Working in Partnership with Halton’s Health Improvement free mind-body-yoga sessions. Team has expanded the provision of Stay Fit classes, Couch to 5K training sessions and running clubs there is plenty to choose from. chair-based classes, and Movement Therapy classes. National Fitness Day in September and Older Peoples Day in October offered free try it sessions and information Couch to 5K operates free of charge in both Widnes and Stay Fit classes are suitable for those wanting a gentle form of events. exercise after a break in activity or those with a health Runcorn and allows people to train at their own pace (walking is fine) or follow a weekly walk-run program set to move you condition. Stay Fit is also very popular with those who have Working with partners to improve health; free taster from the couch to running 5K. been part of Fresh Start weight management. sessions have been delivered to various organisations Parkrun operates in both Widnes and Runcorn and has been including the Association, British Lung Foundation, hailed nationwide as the exercise plan that people enjoy and so Chair-based exercise and movement therapy classes are Vision Support, Mental Health partners and various care are likely to stick to it. Parkrun is a free 5k run operated by popular with those who have been through the falls homes and sheltered accommodations. prevention service or have mobility problems. volunteers for people of all fitness levels. www.parkrun.org.uk for further info