Record high in Buddies getting fit
Health bosses revealed more and more Buddies are joining in fitness fun by signing up for a trio of exercise programmes.
Record numbers of folk are joining walking clubs, exercise classes and taking advice from experts about getting more active in the community.
Renfrewshire is one of six partners working with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in providing activity programmes which offer people the opportunity to take part in a physical activity that suits them.
Joyce McKellar, chief executive of Renfrewshire Leisure — the management trust that operates sport, leisure and cultural facilities locally — said: “It’s heartening to know that the work we do and the excellent facilities we provide are encouraging even more people to become physically active and healthy.
“One of our core aims is to promote the benefits of exercise and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives, no matter their age, or what level of physical ability they have.”
In 2016/17 alone, there were more than 720 new walkers signed up for the Health Walk classes, which offer short, safe, social and accessible low level walks led by trained volunteers walkers.
Recorded attendances last year was well over 43,000 and there were also 175 new volunteer walk leaders signed up for training.
Vitality is a programme of exercise classes for people with different physical abilities and medical conditions, including coronary heart disease, multiple sclerosis, COPD or Parkinson’s Disease, who can take regular classes tailored to suit their abilities. There were nearly 100,000 attendances recorded last year across 160 weekly classes.
The last programme is Live Active and is for patients who are not currently taking much exercise, but are motivated to get more active. The programme provides one-to-one support to become more active and advice.
Dr Linda de Caestecker, director of Public Health, added: “Supporting people to‘sit less and move more’remains a challenge.
“However, these three programmes are helping more and more people to find an activity that is enjoyable and achievable.”