Functional Fitness celebrates its tenth year

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Functional Fitness is celebrating its tenth year.

With nearly 50 courses delivered throughout its time, it’s supported more than 940 residents who may be suffering with long-term health conditions, by helping to improve their fitness.

The demand for the courses has seen a significant rise in recent years due to its positive impact in the community, but with each course costing £1,000 to run, we have set up a funding page for donations to raise £2,000 to run another two courses and ensure the successful future of the courses.

Since the initiative began in 2014, the free-to-access courses have been recognised amongst industry leaders and experts. The programme has been acknowledged as best practice by the BHF National Centre of Physical Action and Health, as well as secondary prevention on the Role of Physical Activity in the prevention of management of long-term conditions.

Using the Sports England Moves measure improvement tool, each Functional Fitness course saves £5,212 NHS treatment costs on diabetes, colorectal cancer, dementia, and hip fractures, with an estimated NHS treatment savings across the ten years of £244,000.

Estelle Rowe, CEO of Your Trust, “Celebrating ten years of the Functional Fitness initiative is so exciting for all of us at Your Trust. We see and hear the positive impact these courses have on those in the borough who need them the most.

“Being able to deliver programmes that specifically improve the health and wellbeing of residents living with long-term health conditions is what Your Trust and its venues is all about.

“Each 10-week Functional Fitness course costs £1,000 to run, and with the demand for the courses increasing and the need to provide more spaces and options for residents to access, further funding is needed to continue delivering courses in the borough.

“We pride ourselves on being able to offer these courses free of charge to the residents of Rochdale Borough, and we want to ensure that we can continue to provide support in the coming years.”

Functional Fitness courses are delivered for free within Your Trust venues, including Heywood Sports Village, Littleborough Sports Centre, Middleton Arena, and Rochdale Leisure Centre, and have previously been delivered in community venues across the Rochdale Borough, with sessions hosted at community venues in Castleton, Bowlee, Kashmir Youth Project (KYP) and Deeplish.

Each course is specifically aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of residents suffering with long-term health conditions through exercise, specifically looking to help strengthen joints and muscles and improve balance and mobility.

Margaret 74, from Rochdale (picture one above) said, “I first accessed the centre four years ago, after an operation for fluid on the brain. I was in a wheelchair, only able to walk short distances, with my husband helping me with everyday tasks.

“My doctor referred me to the free Functional Fitness programme, after it was advised I lose weight and strengthen my body. After the initial free course ended, I signed up to a Your Trust membership and now do an average of 10 classes per week across the Your Trust leisure centres.

“It’s a great way to make new friends and I feel a lot fitter now and keep coming back to stay fit and strong, whilst working on my health and wellbeing. It works for me, and I’m so grateful I’ve finally got my life back.”

If you would like to donate to fund further Functional Fitness courses and extend the support required by Rochdale residents, please click the button below to visit our JustGiving page

If you would like more information about free Functional Fitness courses or are interested in joining a course, please contact the Your Trust Specialist Health & Wellbeing team on 01706 926235 or email SpecialistHealth@yourtrustrochdale.co.uk