Let's Move Essex
Encouraging those with health conditions to get more active
The Let’s Move Essex was a test and learn project focusing on the Braintree and Basildon areas of Essex. It was developed by Versus Arthritis with funding provided by Active Essex. The project developed opportunities for people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions to be active.
Being active after a diagnosis of an MSK condition can reduce pain and improve quality of life and independence. But the benefits are often not fully realised as they not sufficiently well known and there is a common myth that these people should rest, and that activity can cause further damage.
Despite this we know that 70% of people with MSK conditions would like to be more active but need help to address the multiple barriers they face to being active which have been exacerbated by Covid-19.
As part of the project recruited 8 fitness professionals to run 8 sessions each week during the 2-week project timeline. The criteria for these roles meant that those that applied were fully qualified and living in or near Basildon and Braintree, and most importantly interested in supporting people with arthritis and related musculoskeletal conditions to get active.
These roles were marketed and promoted through a range of different channels and resulted in 10 applications being received.
The locations used were Laindon Community Centre, Braintree Sport and Health Club, Witham Leisure entre, The Place and Braintree Swim and Fitness Centre. Based on the fitness professionals’ skills, the following classes were held, low impact condition sessions, Pilates and yoga. In addition, fitness professionals taught participants exercises they could do at home and showcased how activities done in sessions could help them with daily living activities.
To ensure the programme was advertised to as many of those in need as possible, the project was supported by the Versus Arthritis Mass Marketing team who ran a series of Facebook ads for both Basildon and Braintree sessions. Flyers were also created and distributed in supermarkets and by healthcare professionals including Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Provide Community rehabilitation service and Community 360 and Basildon CVS.
Versus Arthritis developed the website which was used to promote the opportunities and acted as a portal for applications. There were two application routes provided – a self-referral route and referral from health professionals. Versus Arthritis also provided a phone registration option using their help line, recognising that not all participants would have access to the internet. The initial registration was followed up with a pre activity questionnaire that included screening and preference/ needs assessment. In additions to web-based questionnaires the opportunity for people to complete these questionnaires at the venue was provided and these places in a sealed envelope for collection by a member of Versus Arthritis staff.
To evaluate the project, they conducted pre and post participant surveys. This allowed them to track and understand the participant’s progress overtime. 40 participants completed the end of project survey. A large portion of participants reported joining the project to improve their condition, gain knowledge on how to relieve pain due to their condition.
The success of this project resulted in a continuation, with Active Essex Find Your Active funding allowing the class to continue for six weeks.
Key Learnings
Marketing
Ensure men are represented and images of people in classes are used, include a start date
Attendees
Understanding the attendees' conditions beforehand would have made creating sessions easier
Planning
Session instructors were not given session plans in the beginning, this would've been useful
