Silent disco group 'brilliant for the body and soul'

Liz Bevins was at her "absolute lowest" about six months ago while going through the perimenopause.

Liz, 47, from Coalville in Leicestershire, decided to start heading out on walks while listening to music to try to help her mental health.

While on one of those walks earlier this summer, she had a lightbulb moment and decided to "take a gamble" to try to introduce the activity to more women by starting her own group.

Only a few months later, dozens now join Liz for a sing and a dance as part of her women's-only silent disco walking group - Shake Up Coalville.

Perimenopause, which commonly occurs around the age of 46, is when you have symptoms of menopause but your periods haven't yet stopped. These symptoms can include anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods.

Liz said she had been "overwhelmed" by some of the messages she had from women telling her of the positive impact the group had on their lives.

Some women had dealt with anxiety and hadn't been able to leave the house for a "long time", Liz added.

"There are not many groups locally for women where we can talk to each other about the perimenopause or anxiety," Liz said.

"When I put the headphones on, I don't know how to explain the feeling it gives you," Liz added.

"Especially when you have these ladies that want the same thing out of it.

"I lose myself so much in music."

After she was made redundant from her job in June, Liz decided to use the redundancy money to buy 20 sets of noise-cancelling headphones.

The first organised walk took place on 22 June and social media videos helped to boost the popularity of the group to the extent that now three themed walks happen every week.

Liz said it was open to any women who were lonely, wanted to make new friends, or just have fun.

Local businesses have also sponsored the venture to eventually help bring the number of headsets available to the group to 50, although for safety reasons this number of women would not be able to do the walk at once.

The women will cross roads in groups, with designated people looking out to make sure everyone is safe, Liz added.

Sam Pope, 57, said taking part made her "heart sing".

"We all bounce off each other and it's a real feel-good activity," she said.

"You put these on and it's like you cut the world out and it gives you a real energy boost.

"It's really brilliant for the mind, body and soul."

Sue Barnett, 76, said: "When you get older you get put off coming to stuff like this, you think: 'No, I am too old'.

"I think more than anything else, you always think people are going to look at you because you are old or you're not going to be capable. But it doesn't matter."

Barnett said the group was "so welcoming" and "fantastic".

"It's just a really good way of having some exercise, moving your body and having a bit of a dance as you go along," she added.

"Each and every one of these ladies I don't think they realise, when I come here and we all put these headsets on, we are all smiling and laughing," Liz said.

"They are helping me as much as I am helping them, believe it or not.

"We're all in it together."

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, you can find information and support via BBC Action Line

Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.