Chichester fitness sessions transforming lives of young people with learning disabilities

The centre, managed by Everyone Active in partnership with Chichester District Council, joined forces with ThinkOut Community (TOC) last year to help improve the physical and mental wellbeing of young people with a whole spectrum of learning disabilities.

The sessions are run by Ben Polhill, contract activity & wellbeing manager at Everyone Active, and involve weekly circuit training sessions and multisport activities, in addition to smaller events such as ‘dryathlons’ and mini half-marathons. Monday afternoon aqua aerobics sessions have also recently launched, to offer activities even more young people can enjoy.

Beginning with just seven young adults attending on a weekday afternoon, the sessions now support 36 young people over three sessions per week – a number which is set to increase as a further six spaces open as part of an October half-term offer.