Hello
Welcome to the second edition of our Health & Wellbeing newsletter of 2021. We hope that you have been safe and enjoyed the snow- albeit a little
cold!
In this edition, we share details of our successful virtual Fit Villages launch and inform you of how you could be involved in future projects. We
share an inspirational story from one of Suffolk's local This Girl Can ambassadors regarding her 7 year battle with breast cancer, plus some top
tips from Suffolk Mind on managing our mental wellbeing through movement following this months Time to Talk Day.
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Our first virtual Fit Villages launches in Glemsford, helping to reconnect local residents and offer physical activity
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The Fit Villages project led by us at Active Suffolk, is a well-established project that supports those living in rural villages
across Suffolk to connect and be active, by helping to fund and source suitable, local activity.
Typically, sessions would be delivered in a village hall, however following the announcement of a third lockdown in January, our fast thinking, innovative team
decided to take their next project to the online world.
Chris Lawson, Project Officer at Active Suffolk who is leading on the Glemsford Fit Villages project said:
"Once the lockdown was announced, we did not want to cancel our plans to support the village. We also did not want to wait to assess the situation as we knew
there was no better time to support residents to access physical activity and stay connected with their local community.
In our latest evaluation of the Fit Villages project, 77% of participants felt closer to their local community after just 8 weeks. Although the project would
be delivered online, it was felt that the connection with other local people could still be achieved, enabling us to fulfil the projects usual objectives"
Read more about our launch by clicking HERE
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If you want to find out more about Fit Villages and are interested in having a project set up for your local community, visit: www.activesuffolk.org/fitvillages
Planning is now underway to launch four more virtual Fit Villages projects in Shotley Peninsular, Darsham, Eye and
Stansfield. If you live in any of these villages, we are currently carrying out research in these areas to discover what kind of activity would be
of interest to local residents.
If you are local, please click on the links below to add your feedback.
Shotley Peninsular
Stansfield
Eye
Darsham
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Nichola Whymark tells of her tremendous journey to mark World Cancer Day
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#WorldCancerDay was on 4th February. It is a day which unites people, communities, and entire countries to raise awareness and take action. To
mark the occasion, Nichola (pictured left), one of our local This Girl Can ambassador shares details of her 7 year battle with breast cancer. She
speaks openly about her journey and touches on the way in which physical activity continued to be an important part of her life, even whilst going through
treatment.
Whilst in recovery, following a major operation Nichola managed to complete a local 5k run alongside her family and friends where she said:
"After this, I had an overwhelming feeling of wanting to do more. To get fit. To use events and challenges as therapy. That event was the making of me
with my recovery. The day I decided I could focus on the future and get the most out of life."
Discover more about her remarkable journey and find out what she did to keep active during last summers lockdown...truly an inspirational story, click HERE
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We all have emotional and physical needs!
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Earlier this month, the nation also acknowledged Time to Talk Day, a campaign led by Time to Change!
Time to Change is a growing social movement working to change the way we all think and act about mental health problems.
Our partners Abbeycroft Leisure and Suffolk Mind have produced a short blog which provides insight into movement and the benefits
it has on our emotional and mental wellbeing. CLICK HERE to read
in full.
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Active Suffolk's services in 2021
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Due to the ongoing uncertainty we are currently faced, our health and wellbeing team have continued to make plans to support you to be active during this challenging
period.
Our Active Wellbeing service which offers physical activity support to older adults from the Eye Health Centre, Glemsford Surgery, Holbrook
and Shotley Surgery and the Two Rivers Medical Practice continues to run. Our physical activity advisors Chris, Janet and
Mair are continuing to offer this service via telephone consultation and video calls. If you would like to find out more and request contact from
the team to begin your journey to a more active lifestyle, please visit www.activesuffolk.org/the-active-wellbeing-service
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Since our team are still unable to deliver support in the local community, plans are in place to deliver a virtual Functional Fitness MOT session.
The tests are designed for adults aged 50+ and allow you to assess your ability to carry out everyday tasks and take steps to make gradual improvements through the
implementation of regular movement and exercise.
During the last lockdown, our team created a Functional Fitness MOT video series which a number of you requested. This allowed you to take part in
your own time at home, however since these were so popular, it has been decided that a live virtual session is to go ahead which will allow our team to provide
additional guidance and support.
A date is currently to be confirmed for this online event, however if you are interested in coming along to the session, please complete the expression of
interest form at www.activesuffolk.org/fitness-mot
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Need some support to help you be active from home?
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6 FREE classes with Chronically Awesome
Chronically Awesome are a community helping those with chronic illnesses to share their journey with others. They provide a safe, supportive space
which is understanding of the challenges you may face whilst living with a condition. They are currently offering exercise & movement classes for those living
with a chronic illness.
We have teamed up with them to offer you 6 FREE classes by simply using the code ACTIVESUFFOLK6 when booking your classes at chronicallyawesome.org.uk/book-a-class/
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FREE Together @ Home exercise classes provided by Abbeycroft Leisure
Join Abbeycroft Leisure for a FREE 30 minute online exercise session aimed to support those with less mobility or looking for a more gentle form of exercise.
Email jill.mason@acleisure.com for the log in codes and to find out more.
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Discover more ways to be active at home
Whether you are missing the gym, want to try something different or feel safer to exercise at home right now, we have collated a number of options which you could
try from home.
Click HERE to find out more
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Boost your wellbeing while staying indoors with some physical activity routines from 10 Today
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Boost your wellbeing while staying indoors with some physical activity routines from 10 Today. They're fun,
effective and just ten minutes long.
Designed to help older people get moving and stretching at home, the popular video and audio sessions support strength, balance and flexibility. Plus
there's the added bonus of improving mood and energy levels too.
10Today involves engaging and easy to follow routines that are accessible and safe. They're adaptable to different fitness levels and can be done at
any time, standing up or sitting down, so you can simply take them at your own pace.
Watch or listen at www.10today.co.uk where you'll find all ten routines as well as an introduction to 10
Today designer Terry Keen, 74, who specialises in physical activity for older people. You can also hear the broadcasts live on BBC5 Live Sports Extra (between 2pm and 5pm Monday-Friday).
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News
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The first COVID-19 NHS large vaccination centre in Suffolk opened this Tuesday as the health service continues to ramp up... Read
More »
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Public Health England (PHE) and the NHS have kicked off the new year with a campaign to encourage people to live a healthier... Read More »
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A further seven rapid testing centres for COVID-19 are to open in Suffolk.
These tests are for people who do not have symptoms... Read More »
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See all News >
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