SHINE changes criticised

WOKINGHAM Borough Council’s recent decision to offer a wider range of exercise classes for older people as part of its SHINE programme has been criticised as ignoring one community sector.

Existing classes are being transferred to the council’s leisure provider Places Leisure.

It noted that prior to the coronavirus pandemic, SHINE had 75 classes per week, but there are now less than half due to challenges around instructor recruitment and a reduction in the number of active members.

Having received communication directly from the Sport and Leisure department at Wokingham Borough Council, reader Richard Marshall contacted Wokingham Today saying the SHINE Programme for the over55s is disappearing.

He said: “It looks to me as though the 55-64-year-old age bracket are the ones most affected.

“At the moment as a SHINE member, you can buy 10 tickets for £46.

“Now it looks like you have to become a member of Places Leisure or pay as you go for twice the price we are currently paying.

“I do understand that something needs to be done if it is running at a loss, but at the same time you need to encourage residents to maintain fitness levels to avoid future health issues and long NHS waiting lists.

“With the current cost of living crisis, this does not seem fair.

A spokesperson for Wokingham Borough Council told Wokingham Today: “While the council accepts that residents aged 55 to 64 may be affected more by this new arrangement, the SHINE programme previously provided for an age group that is not widely recognised as part of a concessionary offer.

“Places Leisure offers a premium concessions membership at a discounted rate to residents receiving certain forms of financial assistance, however the council believes that there is still a wide range of free and affordable options for exercise in the borough, which would provide opportunities to live well and stay active throughout the week.

“These include free health walks across the borough, free swimming for over-60s, and the Forever Active over-50s programme with Places Leisure which is £3.95 for nonmembers and free for members

“There is also a GP referral exercise scheme for those with one or more health conditions e.g obesity, which allows access to classes, discounted access to gym and swimming pools at designated Places Leisure sites.”