Wokingham Borough Council is proud to announce that its Moving with Confidence scheme has been awarded the Physical Activity Hero Award by Get Berkshire Active Awards.
Now in its tenth year, Get Berkshire Active is one of a network of forty-three active partnerships across England and is a charity with a social purpose to transform lives through sport and physical activity.
The awards have been awarded to individuals, organisations, charities, schools, community groups and sports clubs who have positively impacted others through physical activity and sport in the county during 2021.
As part of the award recognition, the council has received a certificate and a digital badge which will be displayed on its website, stationary and other communication collateral.
Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure, said: “I am delighted that we have been recognised and awarded the Physical Activity Hero award for our Moving with Confidence scheme.
“We saw an increase in older residents who were deteriorating physically due to the Covid restrictions keeping them indoors and less mobile. This was causing an increase in associated risks such as falls, loss of muscle strength and declining confidence going out and about.
“We support our residents to lead happy, healthy lives, whilst nurturing communities. Our scheme has helped to improve the lives of many residents’ physical activity, mental health and wellbeing. It is an honour to accept this prestigious award.”
About the scheme
Moving with Confidence was initiated as a pilot scheme during the first Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and has helped eighty-seven residents living in Wokingham Borough. In February 2021, following the success of the pilot and to provide post-Covid support, the Moving with Confidence programme commenced and was funded by Wokingham Borough Council, Berkshire Care Fund and the Ageing Well Programme. The programme has been delivered to 621 individual visits and helped 157 residents living in the borough to date.
The council identified a health and wellbeing need and set up the scheme to help residents recondition through low-intensity, strengthening exercises, helping them to build their confidence and become more mobile. Borough residents were identified and referred to the scheme by Age UK Berkshire, Link Visiting Scheme, Wokingham Borough Council’s Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, Community Navigators and Social Prescribers to take part in the scheme in the comfort of their own homes. In turn, the scheme would help assist with the rising adult social care and help ease the heightening pressure on the NHS, particularly during the pandemic.
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