Stories

The Armed Forces Family Programme uses sport and physical activity to support children and young people from Armed Forces families across Somerset, helping them to build confidence, resilience and wellbeing. Through one-to-one mentoring, group activities and support in schools, the programme is making a real difference to young people and their families. Here, they share their experiences of the programme and the impact it has had. 1:1 Sessions Aaron has been such a huge help in mentoring ...

John, 82, was referred to Move 2 Independence (M2I) after a four-week hospital stay with COVID-19 and pneumonia. Living with his son and daughter-in-law, he wanted to regain his outdoor mobility and become more independent at home. Following referral through D2A, he completed six M2I sessions focused on outdoor walking, strength, balance and confidence-building. Initially, John lacked confidence, had poor balance and relied on a walking frame or walking sticks. He also found the exercise programme ...

As Move 2 Independence (M2I) approaches two years of supporting Somerset residents after hospital stays, the impact is best seen through the people whose confidence and independence have been rebuilt after engaging with our Activators. With more than 500 participants supported and over 1,300 personalised sessions delivered, there are many stories like Eileen's that show how the service helps people get back to living well at home. At 79, Eileen was referred to M2I after a fall at home left ...

The Mental Wellbeing Side of Injury Recovery A blog by Joseph Madge, Marketing & Communications Officer Enjoying a lovely summer's evening back in August, I was at my usual Wednesday football session when I fractured my ankle. I thought the hardest part would be the physical recovery. Three months out of football didn't sound ideal, but I figured it was just a case of rest, crutches, and physio exercises. What I didn't expect was how much of a challenge it would be mentally. Football ...

When Peter first joined a health walk in Somerton several years ago, he wasn't looking for anything more than a bit of company and a way to stay active. He didn't know anyone there when he went for the first time, but what started as a casual stroll quickly became something much more meaningful. Over time, Peter became a regular walker with this group around Somerton and then one day the usual volunteer walk leader Mo couldn't make it. Instead Peter took them on a route around the ...

Background I met Barbara back at the start of January, she was referred to SASP following discharge from hospital and project lead Lianne had called her over the Christmas period to introduce the service and check she was okay. Barbara was feeling quite distressed about movement and being in pain. Barbara had severe pins and needles in both arms and could not move more than 1 to 2 steps without going dizzy and having to sit. Barbara felt unable to leave her chair for most of the day, had a very ...

"A massive thank you for all the support my 11-year-old daughter, "E," received through HHH. E has Autism and ADHD and had a really tough time starting secondary school. Things became so overwhelming that she had to move schools, which was a big and scary step for her and her family. Thanks to her time at HHH, E was able to walk into her new school, a completely unfamiliar environment with new children, and believe she could handle it. The confidence she gained from the sessions ...

Move 2 Independence (M2I) is a programme by Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) designed to support individuals recently discharged from the hospital as they transition back to independent living. Funded by Somerset Council and NHS Somerset, it primarily serves people who need help with strength, balance, and confidence in movement - often essential for preventing falls and regaining daily functionality. M2I includes one-to-one sessions where Activators guide participants through exercises ...

Hazel, Angie and Lee all started at the Monday Level 1 Somerset Health Walk in Frome, all for different reasons, but have since blossomed a friendship and all now attend every single week - with Hazel and Lee attending the Wednesday and Fridays walks now too each week but still stick with that Monday walk as they are so fond of the people😊 Hazel moved here from South Africa and has found the walks have made a big difference to her: "I live alone so the social side is very important to me ...

This week, June 3rd - June 9th is Volunteers Week 2024. A week to say thank you and appreciate the impact that our volunteers have within SASP and on the residents of Somerset. Jenny, SASP's Volunteer Co-ordinator, recently spoke to one of the Move More Together volunteers, Gail. She was paired up with Angela via the programme and they have been meeting since November, meeting most weeks. Move More Together is a programme designed to encourage inactive adults over 50 to get moving again ...

Last month, we heard from Annette from the Burnham-On-Sea Harriers, and this month we are happy to hear from Todd as he tells us his story of how running helped him in a time of need. This article mentions clinical anxiety and depression. "I'm a fairly new runner, I started running back in September last year with the C25K program with the Burnham-on-Sea Harriers. It came at a time in my life where I was at a complete rock bottom. My depression was all to consuming and my anxiety made ...

While we celebrate the love we have for others, it's also an opportune time to reflect on the relationship we have with ourselves, particularly in terms of physical health and well-being. Just as we invest time and effort into nurturing connections with loved ones, cultivating a positive relationship with physical activity is equally important. Here, we delve into how to foster a loving bond with exercise, inspired by the spirit of Valentine's Day. Understanding the Foundation Much ...

Our Health Walks Co-Ordinator and Stronger 4 Longer ambassador Georgina Hainsby is also a valued member of the Burnham-On-Sea Harriers - a local running club that is supportive of all abilities. Georgina has been speaking to another member of the club, Annette, who has been speaking about her journey on a Couch to 5K (C25K). "On 4/11/2023, I RAN my first ever park run – 5K. This was a graduation event from the Couch to Five (C25K) organised by the local Harriers running group. I didn't ...

Love to Pedal is an adapted cycling opportunity that allows people to enjoy moving at home using pedal exercisers and a choice of ten to thirty minute bike rides that have been filmed across Somerset to bring it to life! Many care homes also use the love to pedal scheme with residents and get really creative with challenges and activities. One care home in Taunton have taken it to a new level, by using the pedals to complete in a cycle challenge through October. The Road Worlds for Seniors cycling ...