Welcome to the UK
Supporting residents with activity
Southend-based charity Welcome to the UK, received funding through the Together Fund to use physical activity as a tool to build relationships within the community, for residents who were new to the country.
Welcome to the UK (WttU), developed a programme to support members to get into a gym, supporting them with knowledge and understanding of the equipment, how to be safe, and to get to know others in a similar situation to them. The women were then offered the chance to join in with group exercise classes, before being given a 3-month free gym membership to help sustain the active and healthy behaviour.
The WttU targeted individuals who otherwise would not be able to afford to go the gym or attend exercise classes, as well as those who were identified as having a lack of confidence due to the lack of mastery of the English language.
Reducing language barriers, social integration and encouraging activity for positive mental wellbeing, was the main aim for WttU, when accessing this funding. Their day-to-day activities are to support families from overseas to positively engage in Southend-on-Sea, based in Victoria Shopping Centre, and get to know their community.
With their members often struggling to attend existing local provision due to cost and worries around not knowing others, the sessions, provided through this funding, allowed the instructor to instil confidence among participants and support their emotional wellbeing.
