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Parkinson's activity group 'a real good help'

Rachael Lewisin Wolverhampton
News imageBBC A group of nine people sitting and smiling and looking into the camera. They are smiling. There are two elderly men on the front row and two women. In the back row there are three women and two men. BBC
After the workout session, the group has a coffee where carers and attendees exchange stories and tips on living with Parkinson's

For those living with Parkinson's, simple day-to-day tasks become a lot more difficult, with many describing themselves as isolated.

In Wolverhampton, a new activity and support group is trying to combat that, by giving those living with the disease an opportunity to exercise and meet others.

One attendee, Ray Adams, said: "I've had Parkinson's for coming up 14 years, and this is the first time I have heard of any venue like this that is helping people with Parkinson's.

"It's been a real good help. I've really noticed a difference in my speech and my balance."

The "Move and Shout" programme at Places Leisure, Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre is funded by Parkinson's UK.

According to the charity, there are 166,000 people living with the condition across the UK, with one person diagnosed every 20 minutes.

The condition sees parts of the brain become more damaged over time and symptoms include involuntary shaking, slow movement and balance problems.

News imageA photo of a group of people doing a workout they are all raising their legs on plastic blocks. There are five people in the photo, two women and three men. None of them is smiling. The rest of the room is very bright with wooden floors and wooden chairs behind them.
The group starts the sessions by doing a physical workout

Michelle Ratcliffe, who leads the sessions, said: "In Wolverhampton there are a high number of people who are inactive with Parkinson's."

"The feedback was that it's a very lonely life living with Parkinson's, people didn't feel listened to, didn't feel heard, they didn't feel seen.

"Whereas now they have got a group, they all come, and they are here every week without fail."

Those who attend said they believed the disease needed more awareness, so opportunities like this could be made accessible to everyone living with Parkinson's.

Retired teacher Frank Breakwell from Codsall has been living with the disease for nine years and said the group was the first of its kind in the area.

"I'm not the same day-by-day. I can't put my socks on, I can't put shoes on. It's absolutely awful.

"My confidence has been built up. It's quite challenging. The woman who is running this group is fantastic, she is helpful with everybody. If I get stuck on anything she comes right over and sorts it out. She's been a good help."

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