South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 04/10/2013

South Gloucestershire Council, the Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and the University of the West of England (UWE) have joined forces to provide a weekly programme of group activities for exercise and positive mental health under the title ‘Exercise SG’. The new groups will meet weekly in Thornbury, Bradley Stoke, Kingswood and UWE (Frenchay campus), joining a pre-existing group that meets in Yate.

Exercise SG has been established for people who use mental health or wellbeing services or feel unable to access mainstream activities due to their mental health issues. Each session will consist of group exercise, socialising and appropriate support from a trained professional. Those taking part can choose from a range of fitness activities from racquet sports to walking.

The Thornbury group will meet each Monday from 11am to 1pm at Thornbury Leisure Centre. The Bradley Stoke group will meet each Monday from 2pm to 4pm at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre. The Yate group meet on Thursdays and their next session takes place on Thursday 10 October (World Mental Health Day) from 11am to 1pm at Yate Leisure. The UWE group meet every Friday from 11am to 1pm at the University’s Centre for Sport, and the Kingswood group also meet on Fridays with their session taking place from 2pm to 4pm at Kingswood Leisure Centre.

Brain Gardner, South Gloucestershire Council’s Active Lifestyles Manager, said: “The Mental Health Foundation informs us that one in four people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year. It is well reported that exercise has a positive effect on our mental health – endorphins raise our mood, we feel a sense of achievement and it’s fun!”

Exercise SG has been made possible by a grant from South Gloucestershire Council and the generous support of all three partners.

Self referrals and referrals from mental health workers and other health professionals are welcome. Please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/A4L to download the referral form or call 01454 862296 for further information.