Parkinson's UK Swindon and District branch receives £10,000 funding to restart exercise programme

The award comes after Sports England data highlighted widening gaps in the activity levels across existing priority audiences during COVID-19.

The local Parkinsons group plan to use the award to fund the cost of venue hire, exercise instructors’ fees, and transport for those with no means of getting to the venues.

Responding to Branch Chair, Dave Logan's expression of gratitude for the funding, Steve Neale, Operations Director, Wiltshire & Swindon Sport (WASP) said,

"Thank you Dave, for your kind words and the success of the application is clearly borne out by your organisation’s diligence and compassion for those you support. We are pleased to be a small part of that."

To ensure the safety of those returning to the classes, the group have undertaken and agreed on various actions, an overview of which is listed below;

• The restart will begin with one class type, the first being Balance & Exercise class at Grange Leisure.
• Various actions had to be agreed, completed, signed off, and copies sent to Parkinson’s UK (PUK) and Grange Leisure. Details of which can be found here.
• Exercise classes will last for 45 minutes. There are currently two groups wanting to re-start;  
• Group/Class 1 will start on the 7 October from 2 – 2.45 pm and Group/Class 2 will start on 14 October, also from 2 - 2.45pm.  
• Double classes will start on 21 October with Class 1 from 2 to 2.45 pm and Class 2 from 3.15 to 4 pm thus ensuring social isolation. 

Addressing the group members, and speaking on behalf of the Committee, Branch Chair, Dave Logan said,