Programmes designed by the Wellbeing College are helping people across the B&NES area take care of themselves and improve their own health and wellbeing throughout April.
Hundreds of people have joined activities or a long-term course spread over several weeks in the past year, with April courses offering people the chance to try yoga with a difference, be introduced to Tai Chi and there’s even iPad training for people aged over 50.
Feedback from previous courses has shown how helpful the programmes can be.
A ‘Wellbeing Programme for people with Pain’ participant, which is running again on 16th April, said: “I just wanted to say thank you for the course.
“It is very supportive in that it showed so much understanding of the effects of long-term pain and the personal difficulties, both physical and emotional, that it brings with it. We have all benefitted from the knowledge and the very practical tips and strategies you gave us.”
All courses are free and provided by professionally trained facilitators.
Popular courses running in April include:
- ‘Tai Chi Timsbury – an introduction’ started on Tuesday 10th April and will run weekly for four weeks until Tuesday 1st May from 11am to 12pm at Timsbury YMCA, North Road, Bath, BA2 0JH.
- “iPads for beginners 50+” starts on Thursday 12th April and runs weekly until Thursday 3rd May from 2pm to 4pm at Paulton Hub, 1-2 Hill Court, High Street, Paulton, BS39 7QG. Each session builds on the previous one so it’s important to attend as many as possible.
- The 11 week course, ‘Wellbeing Programme for People with Pain’ sessions start on Monday 16th April and run weekly until Monday 16th July (apart from 7 May, 28 May and 2 July) from 1.30pm to 4.30pm at Southdown Methodist Church, The Hollow, Southdown, Bath, BA2 1NJ.
- Laughter Yoga sessions run weekly from Tuesday 17th April for five weeks until Tuesday 22nd May from 3.30pm to 4.30pm at Southdown Methodist Church, The Hollow, Southdown, Bath, BA2 1NJ.
- Macmillan Cancer Support HOPE (Help Overcoming Problems Effectively) Programme sessions will start on 18th April and run weekly until 23rd May from 10am to 12.30pm at Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath, Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RL.
- A half day ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ course will run on Thursday 19th April from 10.30am to 1.30pm at Bath City Farm, Kelston View, Twerton, Bath, BA2 1NW.
For more information on any of the courses, people can visit the Wellbeing College website at http://www.wellbeingcollegebanes.co.uk/ or book their place by calling 01225 831820 or emailing wellbeingcollege@virgincare.co.uk.
Sarah Prendergast, Manager of the Wellbeing College, said: “Our courses provide a great opportunity to meet others and explore together proactive ways of taking control of their health and wellbeing.
“Feedback has shown how helpful courses like these have been for people across Bath and North East Somerset to improve their wellbeing and achieve the goals they wish to set.”
The Wellbeing College offers an informal environment for guidance and support to help people take care of their own health and wellbeing. People can join a one-off activity or a long-term course spread over several weeks.
The service also offers 1:1 support and guidance through a free Wellbeing Advice session for those not wishing to attend a course. Anyone interested can call an adviser for more information on the support and activities the college offers.
It is one of a number of services overseen by Virgin Care as part of the Bath and North East Somerset Community Health and Care Services which it runs on behalf of the local council and Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group.
