Washington Strength and Balance programme

Sunderland Strength and Balance programme is a FREE 14-week programme design for 50+ to improve their Strength, Balance, Independence, Confidence and to prevent falls.

The programme is tailored to meet your needs and to support you to make positive and long-lasting changes to your health.

As part of the programme, you will receive support via:

· An initial assessment to assess your suitability and a final assessment to measure your progress.

· Weekly supervised simple exercise programme to improve your strength, balance, independence, confidence.

· Weekly education and information session covering a range of health and wellbeing topics.

· A home exercise booklet.

· Make new friends and peer support to tackle loneliness.

Criteria for joining the programme:

· You must be a Sunderland resident.

· Aged 50+

· History of falls or near misses, fear of falling or reduced confidence.

· Identified as having strength and balance deficits.

· Able to walk independently with a walking aid (3 or 4 wheeled walker/stick) or unaided.

· Able to sit to stand from a chair using arms independently.

· Able to stand for several minutes at a time, with or without support (such as holding onto a chair, if required).

· Medically stable and in control of any long-term conditions.

The programme is not suitable for people having,

· Uncontrolled chest pain, joint or low back pain.

· Severe dizziness.

· Recent injurious fall without medical examination.

· Recent surgeries.

· Uncontrolled high blood pressure.

· Severe sight or hearing loss.

If you fulfil the above criteria, you can self-referral yourself to the programme. If you are in doubt, please discuss with your GP Surgery or Health Professional.

• All genders welcome