Move it or Lose it
Strength and balance exercise class
Set up by Georgina Burr, the Move it or Lose it classes take place in Great Yeldham, Sible Hedingham, Finchingfield, Earls Colne and Hatfield Peverel, providing low impact exercise for the over 60’s, seated, standing or supported.
Move It or Lose It community classes offer strength and balance exercises along with opportunities to socialise. They are ideal for older people especially those who may be lonely, isolated or frail. The group classes offer a non-medicalised solution to benefit residents, including a better quality of life, improved strength and mobility, mental and emotional wellbeing, and reduced levels of loneliness.
Although a national franchise, Active Braintree Foundation funded these classes throughout the Braintree District to support older residents with increased mobility. Georgina has built a fantastic relationship with her participants, supporting them to return week after week, focusing on flexibility, aerobic, balance and strength, as well as introducing cognitive games to improve memory.
Over the 3 years since it’s conception, the Move it or Lose it classes have seen an increase in it’s participants functional fitness and positive wellbeing. The class has encouraged socialising, in turn combatting loneliness.
The increased functional fitness has made active daily living easier, with participants comment feeling more independent and able, spending less time sedentary. The group builds residents confidence, so they start to socialise more, and become more independent. The Move it or Lose it ethos takes a preventative approach, ensuring residents are less dependant on the NHS, because they are more physically active, and have better mental health. Due to the activities and movements that take place, participants are encouraged to understand how to support themselves if they have a stumble, which also gives them greater confidence when out and about.
Key Learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, in order to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Social Prescribing
Engagement from social prescribers can be a struggle, yet very important for this group
Community Offers
Understanding other groups in the community, helps to avoid clashes
Behaviour Change
12 weeks gets engagement, but to achieve behaviour change sessions should last 6-12 months
