Hello
welcome back to the Active Suffolk Health and Wellbeing newsletter. We hope you are enjoying your monthly updates so far and are finding the information useful.
In this edition of the Health and Wellbeing newsletter we celebrate the launch of our Lockdown Activity Hero stories, share updates from our Fit Villages projects
across the county and let you know about some of the latest physical activity and mental health campaigns.
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My Lockdown Activity Hero...
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Throughout August we invited local people to nominate an individual, sports club, teacher or leisure provider that had inspired, motivated or supported them to be
active during lockdown.
We were totally overwhelmed by the response receiving 382 nominations, identifying over 50 individuals who have been crowned as Lockdown Activity
Heroes.
Two of our Fit Villages project instructors were crowned Lockdown Activity Heroes which you can find featured below. To read about all of our local
Lockdown Activity Heroes log onto www.activesuffolk.org/my-lockdown-hero
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Didi Kamfer
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Didi Kamfer is a Pilates teacher who delivers classes in the Woodbridge and surrounding area. Didi also instructed the Pilates class set up and supported
by the Fit Villages project in Little Bealings earlier this year. The 8 week Fit Villages funded project finished just the day before the lockdown
restrictions were put into place, however that did not stop Didi in supporting her clients.
Everyday in lockdown Didi recorded a 30- 60 minute Pilates session for her clients to enjoy from the comfort of their own home.
"Didi maintained her wonderful humour...she is an inspiration and her unique music choices, her "every-woman" attitude and her sense of fun shines
through, whether it's on virtual lockdown videos or in person during our face to face classes!"
Read Didi's full story by clicking HERE
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Jill Streatfield
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Jill Streatfield started the Otley Adult Tap Dancing classes with the support of the Fit Villages project at Active Suffolk over four years, where it has continued
to go from strength to strength. Her classes have grown over the years and those that attended from the very beginning have continued to this day. Jill now delivers
tap dancing in Grudisburgh and Ufford too!
When the lockdown restrictions were put in place, Jill worked hard to ensure her members continued to seek the support, activity and community connection they were
used to! She set up free online zoom classes open to all, where she would regularly attract 15-20 participants. She also set up a WhatsApp group and a regular
newsletter to ensure everyone was well connected. Eventually, Jill also set up a weekly online coffee morning to help the connection between members from across the
county to grow.
One member said:
"Many of the tap class members are single ladies who have been in lockdown alone (me being one of them) and we are also not in our prime. Our generation is often
forgotten with much attention and time given to the young of society. The weekly dance with music and supporting each other is hard to value anytime, and
especially since March. We have all forged new friendships through this group and given invaluable support to each other."
Read Jill's full story by clicking HERE
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Functional Fitness MOT Testing
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Whilst we are not delivering large group based functional fitness MOT sessions in the local community, we have created a series of six videos which you can
watch and follow from the comfort of your home.
Since we launched these videos we have been really pleased with the response. The test demonstrated by our team aims to help you identify areas of weakness
which may be linked to your ability to carry out everyday tasks. With each test, you will be instructed on how you can plot your results against those of
the national average.
If you would like to give these tests a go, please contact us to request the series by emailing info@activesuffolk.org
To find out more about the Functional Fitness MOT's log on to: www.activesuffolk.org/fitness-mot
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We love being back...
After the successful return to our Fit Villages project in Corton, we have continued to relaunch other projects across the county.
Check out the classes we have returned to in the last month...
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What is the Fit Villages project?
Fit Villages is a well-established and popular project that makes a real difference to local communities by bringing people together to socialise, have fun and
become more active. The Fit Villages project offers support to villages in rural locations to set up physical activity sessions by using local facilities such as
community centres, village halls, libraries and playing fields. We've helped many villages across Suffolk to set up lots of fun and exciting activities such as
Pilates, Yoga, Table Tennis, Nordic Walking, Zumba, Badminton, Keep Fit and Walking Football, as well as many more! To find out more click HERE
How do the new guidelines from the government effect Fit Villages?
Following the lockdown, leisure facilities, gyms and community venues were reopened. Social distancing and hygiene rules have been put in place across these
facilities to ensure people can safely return to physical activity and exercise. On Monday 14th September, new rules proposed by the government mean that no more
than six people can meet in public places, however the government and Sport England have confirmed that this DOES NOT include leisure facilities,
including gyms and pools or physical activity session in local community centres where stringent return to play rules have been put in place. This means any planned
Fit Villages projects will continue to go ahead (unless we announce otherwise) and we are continuing to work to discover new villages in Suffolk that would like
support to introduce local people to new activity.
I want to help set up a project in my village, what do I need to do?
Great, simply get in touch with the team by completing the form at www.activesuffolk.org/fit-villages-enquiry
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Active Wellbeing Service in Suffolk
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The Active Wellbeing Service is now running in four locations across Suffolk; Two Rivers Medical Centre (Ipswich), Eye Medical Centre, Holbrook and Shotley Health
Centre and Glemsford Surgery. If you are a patient in any of these surgeries, you can sign up for support by clicking HERE
Alternatively, please contact the Physical Activity Advisor for your area:
Janet Lawrence - Physical Activity Advisor for The Shotley & Holbrook Practice
07557 633724
janet.lawrence@activesuffolk.org
Chris Lawson - Physical Activity Advisor for Glemsford Surgery
07748 181434
chris.lawson@activesuffolk.org
Mair Potter - Physical Activity Advisor for Eye Health Centre & Two Rivers Medical Centre
07557 633824
mair.potter@activesuffolk.org
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The NHS Better Health campaign, supporting you to be more active...
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In the last month the NHS have launched a brand new campaign called "Better Health". If you are looking for additional support to lose weight,
become more active and to improve your diet, log on and download the new app today at: www.nhs.uk/better-health/
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Cycle September
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It is not too late to get involved in this months cycling campaign. Cycle September invites everyone to log their cycle rides throughout the month in order
to gain points.
Facts about Cycle September...
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Cycle September is based on a tried and tested format that has engaged more than 517,000 people worldwide and helped
121,000 people take up riding or get back in the saddle.
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You can take part as an individual, with your workplace and with your cycling club or social cycling group.
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Individuals and their workplaces will compete on local, national and global leaderboards to see who can earn the most points.
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Points are earned for every mile and day you ride plus every person you encourage.
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You could win bikes, gear, restaurant vouchers and lots of other great prizes - plus if you encourage your company to sign up and your team tops the
national leaderboard at the end of September, you could win Cyclehoop equipment for your workplace!
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You can take part in Cycle September by following 3 easy steps:
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Register at lovetoride.net/suffolk
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Join your company or invite your workplace to register (you can join or register a group or ride solo too!)
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Log rides manually in September or connect your favourite cycling app (Strava, MapMyRide or Endomondo). Your rides will be recorded automatically and
will sync your last 30 days of riding!
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Suicide Prevention
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This week on Thursday 10th September, it was National Suicide Prevention Day. If you or someone you know has been feeling low in mood or is even
contemplating suicide, there are services across that can help. Below we have listed some useful links.
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