Breaking Barriers: Jubilee2 Brings Good Boost to the Community
Jubilee2 Leisure Centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme is transforming community health through its innovative Good Boost programme. Partnering with local housing providers, Jubilee2 staff are delivering personalised exercise sessions directly to residents in their communal lounges. This unique approach has made fitness more accessible for individuals with long-term health conditions, fostering both physical activity and social connection.
Reaching the community
Since its launch, Good Boost has seen impressive engagement, with 100 users registered and 390 sessions delivered. Held in residential communal spaces, the programme offers a welcoming and relaxed environment for participants who might not otherwise visit a traditional leisure centre. Sessions include guided exercise alongside tea, coffee, and opportunities for residents to connect socially.
What makes Good Boost special?
Participants highlight the programme’s personalisation and flexibility as key strengths. Unlike standard fitness classes, Good Boost allows individuals to work at their own pace without comparison or pressure. The sessions, often set to 60s and 70s music, create a fun, relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere. Facilitators encourage storytelling, allowing residents to tell their life stories and build a sense of community.
The inclusive nature of Good Boost is a significant draw. The sessions are tailored to each participant’s abilities, ensuring no one is excluded due to physical limitations. The drop-in format also makes it easy for residents to join at a time that suits them, reducing barriers to participation.
Jubilee2’s role
For Jubilee2 staff, delivering sessions in community settings has been a transformative experience. By stepping outside the leisure centre, they’ve gained valuable insights into the challenges faced by individuals with long-term health conditions. Their time, compassion, and adaptability have been vital to the programme’s success.
Positive feedback
Participants have shared overwhelmingly positive feedback. Despite living in the same complex, socialisation can be difficult, but the sessions bring them together. The staff had tried more structured physical activity sessions in the past, but they were not prescriptive per condition and limitation, which means they were not as inclusive to all the residents. The staff attended sessions to better understand and signpost the residents to the sessions.
Building for the future
With 390 sessions already delivered, Good Boost is a testament to Jubilee2’s commitment to community health. By serving both residents and NHS objectives, the programme highlights the power of collaboration and tailored support. Securing long-term funding remains a priority, but Jubilee2 is proud to lead the way in making fitness accessible and inclusive for all.
