Funding from NHS Charities Together is helping to launch a new exercise programme which incorporates gentle exercise and peer-to-peer social support.

Launching this autumn and delivered across Bournemouth and Poole by BH Live, the exercise programme is aimed at local adults who have been affected by cancer, especially those who are living with, recovering from, or supporting a loved one who is living with the disease.

The sessions, which will run for a 12-week period, will start from the week commencing the 18th of September 2023 at the Littledown Centre in Bournemouth and BH Live Active in Corfe Mullen.

Each one will include gentle walking with elements of strength and mobility exercise, with refreshments afterwards providing participants the opportunity to chat with others.

Participants will be asked to contribute £2.50 per session to take part. Any surplus at the end of the 12 weeks will be reinvested back into the programme to deliver future sessions.

Viv Galpin, Health and Wellbeing Manager for BH Live runs BH Live’s diverse programme of health and wellbeing activities across the BCP region to encourage more people into physical activity.

She said: “Self-care such as regular physical activity and talking about experiences can help people feel more in control of their own physical health and wellbeing.

“We know this often feels unattainable, especially after a diagnosis. But by taking one step at a time in a safe and supported environment we hope to be able to reach out and support as many people as we can.”

All of the BH Live Active instructors who will be delivering the exercise sessions are Level 4 Cancer Rehabilitation qualified through BH Live’s employee learning and development programme.

Distributed through Active Dorset and University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity, the funding to enable BH Live to deliver these sessions has come from the Dorset Health Village Small Grants Fund, part of NHS Charities Together. Available to Not-for-profit organisations only, the purpose of this funding is to increase physical activity opportunities for people living in Dorset who are affected by cancer.

• For more information about the programme and to register interest, residents aged 65+ are invited to contact BH Live’s Health and Wellbeing team at communityclasses@bhlive.org.uk.

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