hermitage | Connecting Communities in Berkshire

by Andrea Malcolm, Project Development Officer

I’ve recently had the pleasure of getting out and about to witness the incredible impact of Debbie Medlin’s Moveability classes firsthand. From cognitive challenges to cream cakes, here is my experience of how our local villages are staying active!

Chieveley Village Hall: Brains and Brawn
Last Thursday, I joined nearly 30 residents at Chieveley Village Hall for a session that was as vibrant as it was vigorous. I’ll admit, I expected a gentle sit-down, but Debbie’s expert choreography provided a true masterclass in inclusivity. It wasn’t just a physical workout for me; the clever movement sequences provided a brilliant cognitive challenge. I found that staying fit is just as much about brainpower as it is about balance!

Lambourn: The Perfect Recipe for Wellbeing
The energy continued on Friday when I visited the Lambourn group. I arrived with fresh cream cakes, which proved to be the ultimate motivator! While the exercises had us all working hard, the true magic happened during the social afterwards. For me, the post-class tea and chat is an invaluable lifeline, providing a deep sense of friendship and support that clearly benefits Lambourn and all its surrounding villages. I was felt so welcomed that I was even told I could come every week!

Debbie runs seated chair exercise classes at venues around West Berkshire. Available at Hermitage, Thatcham, Newbury, Lambourn and Chieveley.
For more information and to find your nearest class, visit: www.moveability.org.uk

Leave a comment 15/05/2024 Connecting Communities in Berkshire

This week we were thrilled to hear from Bev, who has been attending seated exercise classes that we helped set up in Lambourn this year with the fantastic Moveability and Everyone Active Lambourn as part of our Activate Village Halls project.

Since 2020, our Activate Village Halls project has been working to ensure physical and mental health through exercise classes is available to all abilities. These seated exercise classes provide older individuals in rural communities with the opportunity to stay active, socialize, and have fun. These sessions combines exercise with social sessions, which help improve participants’ mental health.

Recent funding from Berkshire Community Foundation and SNG (formerly Sovereign Housing Association) has allowed us to support the setup and subsidise the ongoing cost of these enjoyable Seated Exercise classes.

Here you get to meet the fabulous Debbie from Moveability and a keen participant, Bev, who describes the difference attending just 6 weeks of classes has made to her life! 😊👍

The first session is free and the next session, in Lambourn, is at 2 pm on Friday so please share with any local family and friends and encourage them to come along and try it out! Further details of class delivery (including in rural Hermitage & Chieveley) can be found here: https://moveability.org.uk/seated-chair-exercise-classes-in-berkshire/

To read a report outlining the outcomes of our Activate Village Halls project and what it has achieved please click here.