Richard Luscombe Funded by the Rank Foundation, and delivered by Argyle Community Trust, the free eight-week ‘Active Devonport’ programme aims to help people from the local community take their first steps towards a healthier lifestyle in a welcoming, supportive, and friendly environment.
The first cohort was a huge success, supporting the health and wellbeing of beginners who are:
- Living with a long-term health condition
- Residing in the PL1 area of Plymouth
- New to the gym or structured exercise and not signed up to a Foulston Park gym membership.
Across our female and male programmes:
- The trust delivered 16 sessions and saw 21 unique attendees.
- 57% were aged 50+
- 19% reported having a disability
Data collected from participants by the Business and Impact team showed some extremely pleasing results:
- 85% have spent more hours on sport and fitness activities on a weekly basis
- 65% have seen an increase in time spent walking
- Over half are eating more fruit and vegetables
- Half of participants felt more optimistic about the future
- A third of participants have reported having less takeaways a week
The feedback from participants was also incredibly positive:
“The good thing about the group session is, I probably wouldn’t have worked that hard on my own.”
“Last night was a really good workout”
“I enjoyed it last night. I tried pushing myself a bit harder than I normally did when I first signed up”
Participants of the programme benefit from:
- Free access to gym facilities
- Free group exercise classes
- Supportive educational workshops on topics such as the importance of physical activity, mental wellbeing, and healthy eating habits
The programme is designed to provide both the knowledge and practical tools needed to support long-term lifestyle change with separate sessions delivered to ensure a comfortable and supportive environment for all participants. Sessions take place on the following days and times:
- Female group: Tuesdays, 6.30pm – 8pm
- Male group: Wednesdays, 6.30pm – 8pm
This introductory programme is ideal for people living with long-term health conditions who want to improve their wellbeing but may feel unsure about where to begin.
By combining education with hands-on experience in a friendly community setting, the programme aims to empower participants to build confidence, improve physical health, and support their mental wellbeing.
Places are limited to 12 per group to ensure maximum support is provided to each person.
To find out more, and register your interest, email ben.kerswell@pafc.co.uk.
