Thanks to funding from the League of Friends, a new and inspiring community fitness partnership is helping people with learning disabilities improve their health and confidence through exercise.
Cambrian Community Centre Gym and Richmond Mencap
The Cambrain Community Centre Gym has partnered with Richmond Mencap to create a dedicated fitness session, ‘Gym with Paula’, a weekly one-hour class specifically tailored for Mencap service users.
The sessions are supported by Sarah, one of the gym’s experienced instructors, alongside a Mencap support worker, ensuring that the participants receive individual attention in a safe, friendly and inclusive space.
Pilot Programme
The Pilot programme, made possible through the League of Friends’ generous grant, is already making a tangible difference.
Five Mencap service users have begun their fitness journeys, and their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Participants have reported improvements in both physical fitness and their confidence, motivation, and overall well-being.
For many, these sessions are more than just exercise: they’re an opportunity to socialise, feel part of the community, and develop lifelong healthy habits in an environment that understands and supports their needs.
Ongoing Support
The project highlights the power of local partnerships. By working together, the League of Friends, Cambrian Community Centre, and Richmond Mencap have created a valuable, sustainable initiative that promotes inclusivity and wellbeing across the community.
As the programme continues, funded by The League of Friends, organisers are looking forward to hearing more from participants and seeing how their progress develops.
The success of Gym with Paula is an excellent example of how community funding, when channelled thoughtfully, can open doors and change lives.
The League of Friends of Teddington Memorial Hospital is proud to support projects like this, which strengthen local health and wellbeing beyond the hospital itself, enabling hospital resources to be focused where they are most needed.
For more information on this community fitness partnership, or to donate, join, or volunteer, please get in touch with us.