Chatter Chairs

Today was our last session for a while out in the community so we all had a little social afterwards with an indulgent cream tea with some home made scones, sausage rolls and cakes 😋 🍰 .

This group offered a unique way to socialise and provide strengthening exercises above and beyond just stretch and mobility. But with the level of care needed to help those who attend, as many have limited mobility and balance, the cost of putting on the class has just meant the numbers don’t balance to make this viably operate unless there is some funding to help it.

I have to remember how this group first started and grew with a £10k grant from BrightLife and the National Lotteries Community Fund. I’ll look into accessing some funding again in the future and see about forming a Community Interest Group to be eligible to benefit from them.

Maybe one day, funding for preventative care out in the community will be a priority in our healthcare system and Government…it certainly needs to be ☝🏻

But for now, it’s goodbye from Michelle and Emma. We’ve put our heart and souls into trying to start this up again and would like to say a massive thank you to all those who have come along these past few months 👋🏻🪑🦽🙋🏻‍♀️.

Monday 31st March will be our final Chatter Chairs session for now so Iet’s enjoy a little social afterwards with a cream tea 😋🫖

Sadly, since my last post, the average number of participants attending our sessions has been erratic and I always said I would give it three months to see if the group could get off the ground again.

When I re-started in January this year, I was full of optimism that we could make a go of this again but numbers have been so up and down that I have had to take the hard decision (yet again) to end our sessions at the end of March (last session Monday 31st).

I tried once again to promote the sessions with the 4 doctors surgeries at the Fountain’s Medical Centre Chester but none would support my initiative (as they weren’t NHS run), and they don’t have noticeboards to put up external adverts. I was also not aware that there are currently free funded chair exercise sessions through Healthbox 🙇🏻‍♀️….

Despite connecting also with social prescribers covering many of Chesters doctors surgeries, there have still not been any referrals and no one has come from my listing on CWAC’s LiveWell site.

This certainly isn’t the end though…..I’m going to look into forming Chatter Chairs as a Community Interest Group (non-profit making) company status which will hopefully enable me to access some social wellbeing funding, just like I did back in 2018, when Brightlife believed in my concept and funded us with £10k to start up and run low cost sessions at 3 venues.

This group has always been about serving those who most need it out in the community and our gatherings offer so much more than just physical benefits. It’s tragic that these kind of community offerings are not supported through CWAC’s Health & Wellbeing budgets - on that note, I spent a whole afternoon completing an online form only to be told applications closed back in November 🤯…

Oh well, I look forward to the final few weeks with those who have been coming. It’s been lovely to meet some new faces and get to meet you all. We’ll still be running for the next 3 weeks so it would be great to see any faces from the past before we do close.

Take care, Emma & Michelle 👋🏻

PS - Pic of Jean’s poem to lighten the mood 😊

So pleased classes are now picking up in numbers at our seated chair exercise sessions in Chester.

Today saw the rekindling of a old school friendship from 58yrs ago which was so lovely and the return of two ladies from 2 years ago.

Lots of smiles and chats together finding out about each other, so heart warming and sociable.

New faces always welcome for coffee and chat from 1.45pm onwards before class begins in the cafe area ☕️.

📍Vicars Cross community centre
🗓️ Monday
⏱️ 2.15pm start
Pay as you go - £6 - no pre booking required

Sad news from Mary’s daughter who contacted me recently. I loved the way Mary embraced exercise in her 90’s, she will never be forgotten x

I’m trying to spread the word that I’ve restarted in the community. Let me know if you are able to put up a poster or could put out some flyers 🙏🏻

Good morning 👋🏻, despite the snow, class is still going ahead today starting at 2.15pm ❄️

🌟⭐️ FREE ENTRY ON MONDAY 6TH JANUARY ⭐️🌟

Here it is….my award-winning seated exercise class is starting up again and we’re coming back to Vicars Cross and I absolutely cannot wait!!!

Who’ s joining me for the first FREE launch session on Monday 6th Jan?

Bring your friends, neighbours, let your health service providers know and let’s look forward to starting the New Year feeling happy, healthy and ready to rock n roll 👊🏻🪑!!!!

Mondays 2.15-3.00pm

Vicars Cross Community centre
Chester
CH3 5LP

After some time away, we’re definitely coming back 😉🤩….who’s ready for some action 💪?

Sharing details of a new fun seated movers dance class for anyone who might be interested. I’m not involved in this but just posting to raise awareness 😊👍🏻

Update.…unfortunately I have now been told the 1:30pm Wednesday slot in Hoole CC where I had hoped to re-start sessions is actually not available as previously indicated…so sorry folks 😔🤷🏻‍♀️