Six community and voluntary groups have been given a share of a £30,000 funding pot to help increase physical activities and deliver better health outcomes across the Wealden district.
Breatheasy, Ditch the Slippers, Hailsham Active, Pevensey & Westham Sports Club, Sussex Support Service and The Conservation Volunteers will receive money from the Tackling Inequalities Funding Programme, which invited applications for bids last year.
Among the activities planned are Walking Football, Clock Cricket, a dance project called Get Up & Go, a Green Gym, exercise classes, health walks and boxing-based training for young adults and their families.
The initiative is a partnership between East Sussex County Council’s Public Health department and Wealden District Council’s Wellbeing Team and followed research undertaken by Active Sussex.
Councillor Pam Doodes, Wealden’s portfolio holder for Public Health, said, “The health and wellbeing of our residents is not only vital for the district’s economic prosperity but is also important for our residents to live happier, more fulfilled, healthier, and active lives.
“The £30,000 secured by our Wellbeing Team through partnership working with East Sussex Public Health will deliver a funding programme that looks to address the fact that there are areas within Wealden where health inequalities and disparities exist.
“That money will support partners to deliver targeted physical activities and services which will not only have physical activity benefits, but will also help individuals realise the many mental wellbeing and health benefits associated with living a more active, healthier lifestyle and encourage them to make positive health choices.”
BreathEasy is a group which will run specialised exercises to people with living with chronic lung conditions and asthma, mental health issues and other disabilities who would otherwise be excluded from exercise through lack of confidence. The group was awarded £2,400. Visit https://www.breatheasyeastbourne.org/ for details.
Ditch the Slippers is an organisation which aims to reduce social isolation among older people in the community and, where appropriate, to give their family carers some regular respite breaks. It has been awarded £1,800 to continue and expand exercise activities and games sessions which are already in place. For more information visit https://ditchtheslippers.org.uk/
Hailsham Active has been given £7,041 to provide boxing training – Muay Thai and Boxercise – for adults and their families. The group will expand on an existing exercise programme to deliver boxing-based training with a focus on teenage girls and junior sessions in the Hailsham area. Visit https://hailshamactive.org/ for details.
Pevensey and Westham Sports Club will use the £4,667 it was allocated to set up Walking Football and Clock Cricket – a seated exercise for those with mobility issues – for older people, disabled adults and people with long term health conditions.
Sussex Support Service will deliver health walks and a dance project called Get Up & Go in Crowborough, Uckfield, and surrounding areas for older people, disabled adults and those with long-term health conditions and adults on low incomes. The organisation was awarded £7,041. For details visit https://www.sussexsupportservice.com
The £7,041 allocated to The Conservation Volunteers will help set up and establish an outdoor green gym, which will provide fun and free outdoor sessions where people will be guided in practical activities such as planting trees, sowing meadows and establishing a wildlife pond. The project will be for older people, disabled adults and those with long term health conditions and adults on low incomes. Visit https://www.tcv.org.uk/southeast for information.