Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, has taken part in sessions organised by partners of Sport England in the Gosport Constituency.
Caroline participated in a session of tai-chi with Love Outdoors in the community Willow Garden behind Forton Medical Centre before a ‘Keep Fit’ class run by the Gosport and Fareham Multiple Sclerosis Society in Stubbington.
Love Outdoors had received an award of £60,587 from Energise Me, a system partner of Sport England, through the Hampshire Active Health Programme. The social enterprise co-creates activities and opportunities with the local community to improve the use of parks and open spaces which are at the heart of some of the most disadvantaged communities in Gosport.
Gosport and Fareham MS Society were also recipients of a Sport England grant, of £15,000, to enable it to continue its work breaking down barriers to participation in exercise for those with Multiple Sclerosis. The session involved seated and standing exercises in Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, Stubbington. Caroline caught up with attendees after the event over a cup of tea, to hear about their experiences and how the sessions were helping them manage their condition through physical activity.
Speaking after the morning of exercise, Caroline said:
“The benefits of keeping active are well-documented but for some people opportunities seem invisible or non-existent. The positive physical and mental health effects of getting out there and participating in exercise mean I am keen for everyone in Gosport, Lee on the Solent, Stubbington and Hill Head to feel it is within grasp.
“Today’s sessions with Love Outdoors and the Gosport and Fareham MS Society have demonstrated those benefits perfectly – I feel so much better for having done it!
“No matter who you are, or where you live, physical activity is within reach thanks to organisations like Sport England and Energise Me. I urge everyone in the Gosport Constituency to take a look at how to get involved in an activity like this.”
Julie Amies, CEO of Energise Me, said:
“Not everyone has the support they need to help them get started and take up an activity that will help improve their health and wellbeing. That’s what people told Energise Me when they were asked what stops them being active. And that’s why Energise Me and Hampshire Public Health were excited to work with Love Outdoors who are supporting people in Gosport ‘to find their thing’. Working with Seekers Create, these two voluntary organisations are creating opportunities for people to come together and be active in the outdoors in Gosport, the place they live.”
Ben Wilson, Sport England’s Executive Director for Digital, Marketing and Communications, said:
“It’s been a brilliant and wholly positive morning in Gosport alongside Dame Caroline. It’s hugely important to get out and see, first hand, the difference investments from Sport England and Energise Me are making to help tackle deep-rooted and stubborn inequalities.
“Both organisations we have visited serve roles of huge significance for their communities. From Love Outdoors’ focus on opening up more green spaces for more people, to the Gosport and Fareham MS Society helping those living with multiple sclerosis to connect with others, while finding ways to stay physically active.
“It is no exaggeration to say that both projects are playing pivotal roles in contributing to Sport England’s driving ambition: to make sport and physical activity a normal part of life for everyone in England, regardless of age, ability or background.”
ENDS
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