East Renfrewshire Vitality Programme praised by locals
East Renfrewshire residents have praised an exercise programme, aimed at supporting those with medical conditions to be active and connected, whilst increasing their fitness levels.
Article Source: East Renfrewshire Culture & Leisure
Last Updated: 17 January 2024 12:46
East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure's Vitality programme grew by 40% in 2023, with over 7000 attendances and 200 new participants in 2023.
The exercise classes have been specifically designed to be suitable for people living with medical conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, cardiac conditions, and more. They offer gentle exercise, with four different levels, depending on ability and all classes improve strength, balance and overall fitness. Weekly classes take place in Clarkston, Eastwood and Barrhead.
Participant Elaine Greeves joined Vitality class in January 2023. She said: “It's just completely turned my life around. I had terrible problems with my hip and my knee on the right side and when I went to the GP they referred me to the Vitality class and a weight loss programme. I've been coming to the weekly Vitality classes at Eastwood Park Leisure, and sometimes Clarkston Hall and since January, I've lost four stone in weight. I can do squats now, I've made new friends at the classes and I feel great. If I can do it, anyone can do it!”
Gillian Wilson has been coming to classes for Vitality classes for six years. She said: “I would recommend Vitality to anyone who has an issue or may be worried about coming along to an exercise class. No one is made to feel out of place and you do it at your own pace. It brings your mood up and you feel as though you're doing something for yourself and your own health. The word Vitality sums it up. It's vital to people in my age group or people with health issues.”
Peter Phrase joined the weekly classes after having a heart attack in 2019. He said: “The benefit of coming along here, even with a condition but certainly as you're older, is you do vigorous exercise at a reasonably high level in a sustained way for two hours a week and then you supplement that with healthy eating, walking and cycling. It's an organised system and everyone is participating, it's disciplined and organised. The staff are really good at what they do and they look after you.”
Councillor Andrew Anderson, East Renfrewshire's Convener for Education, Equalities, Culture and Leisure, attended the Vitality end of year party in 2023. He said: “It's vitally important for the participants to get out, socialise and be more active and it gives a very good sense of community.”
Council Leader Owen O'Donnell, who also attended the celebration, said: “The classes are important to people. Everyone loves the Vitality programme, it's a big part of their lives. It gives them a routine for one or two days a week and something to look forward to and gives them a chance to go out and meet like-minded people and do some exercise. It's really inspiring hearing about the Vitality programme and the impact it's having and also that so many new people want to join. This is exactly the kind of activity that East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure and HSCP should be involved in to support the wellbeing of our elderly residents.”
East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure partners with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership to deliver services to the communities of East Renfrewshire. This includes supporting people with medical conditions to improve their physical and mental health through the Vitality programme. The classes are delivered by East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure's Active Health and Wellbeing team, which is made up of highly skilled and qualified instructors who work with each participant to ensure the correct class is recommended.
The Vitality programme also includes a new Parkinson's class, which is specifically designed for people with Parkinson's who are newly diagnosed or who have mild symptoms.
East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure's Chief Executive Anthony McReavy said: “We're incredibly proud of the Vitality programme and the support it provides in keeping residents in our community healthy and active. We've had wonderful feedback from participants, who enjoy the social aspect as well as the exercise element.
“I want to thank our Active Health and Wellbeing team - I know that their support and encouragement keeps participants coming back to classes and we look forward to another successful year of our Vitality programme in 2024.”
If you are interested in Vitality, please get in touch with our Vitality Co-ordinator, Pamela Nesbitt on pamela.nesbitt@ercultureandleisure.org.
You can also find more information on Vitality on our website www.ercultureandleisure.org
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