Everyone Active & Parkinson’s UK

Everyone Active centres are in Fakenham, North Walsham, Mundesley, Cromer, Bungay, Lowestoft, and Sheringham.

There is also an additional free pickleball offer for individuals with Parkinsons in Hingham. Sport England and the National Lottery have awarded Hingham Pickleball funding for this offer.

Everyone Active & Parkinson’s UK

We are offering a complimentary membership for people living with Parkinson’s. Free membership will also be given to carers to provide support if needed.

Parkinson’s Membership Frequently Asked Questions

What’s included in your membership?

Access to the gym, swimming pool (where applicable) and group exercise classes
Access to Synergy Dance online classes via a link
We know how important it is to be active, it’s great for your physical and mental wellbeing, and it’s especially important for people with Parkinson’s.
The more physically active people with Parkinson’s are, the easier it is to live well and manage the complexities of the condition.

Being active can be anything that you find enjoyable and gets you up and about, and we are sure that there’ll be something for you to try at one of the over 190 Everyone Active sites nationwide. That might be going for a swim, attending a Parkinson’s specific class, or building up your strength in one of our gyms, all supported by our friendly and trained staff.

If you are taking advantage of our complimentary membership offer, there’s a few things to think about first.

If you are fit and healthy, and your Parkinson’s symptoms are mild you should be able to take part in most of the activities on offer, but maybe start gently before easing into something more vigorous.

If you’ve had Parkinson’s for a long time, or your symptoms are more complex, definitely start slowly and at a comfortable pace.

And if you have any underlying health conditions (such as heart problems, diabetes or breathing issues) you should contact your GP before starting any new activity.

Being more active will help you to live well with Parkinson’s and as well as aiding cardiovascular fitness, balance, strength and coordination, many people say it helps them to sleep better, feel less anxious and to help them keep doing the things that they enjoy.

Whether you are a regular at a leisure centre or a beginner, try and keep in mind these 4 hints:

Some is good, more is better! It’s great to be active, but try and do as much as you can as often as you can – and try and get your intensity levels high

Keep it enjoyable and varied If you enjoy what you do, then you’ll keep doing it! Try and vary how you are active – mix in some classes with some gym work, or a swimming session with your usual yoga or pilates – whatever you enjoy doing

Make it social. Being active with old friends or new, or in a class or group can really increase your enjoyment and motivation, and it’s a good excuse for a chat and some cake afterwards

Challenge your mind. Keeping your brain as well as your body active can be very beneficial for all of us, and it’s especially true for people with Parkinson’s. For example dancing or table tennis are great ways to be mentally and physically active.

And you can learn more about being active with Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s UK.

How do I join a Parkinson’s membership?

Follow the join online process, which can be found here, for a step by step guide to start your membership. A join in-centre option is also available. Please call or visit your nearest centre if you require additional support.

What do I get with my membership?

This is an ongoing membership that includes Gym, public swimming, group exercise classes and online Dance Synergy. We will ask you to complete online surveys that ask questions on your physical and mental wellbeing at the start of your membership, 3 months, 9 months and 12 months.

Do I need to complete an induction?

Yes, you will be directed to complete an online induction as part of the Join Online process.

What if I already have an Everyone Active membership?

If you are a member with a monthly membership, please cancel the direct debit with your bank and use your last month up front, as per the normal cancellation procedures. Once your membership has expired, you can follow the join online process. To check if your membership has expired, please see your online profile or ask in centre. If you are an annual member, you will be able to complete your join online process once your membership has expired.

What parking and changing facilities are available?

You can locate your closest Everyone Active centre by using our online centre finder. From there you can enter your town, postcode or click “Use my location” to find a centre near to you. This will show you accessibility information for your centre.

What should I do if I don’t have an email address?

Our online process and bookings system require you to have an email address. This can be a shared email address with a partner or carer. You will need to set one up if you don’t have one or share an email account.

Person with Parkinson’s

What do I need to bring as proof of my diagnosis?

On your first visit to the leisure centre, please bring a doctors or consultants letter confirming your diagnosis.

How will I know if an activity is suitable for me?

Anyone looking to start a new physical activity routine should speak with their GP or healthcare team before starting. All activities have a description for your reference, to help you determine if it is suitable for you.

Carers

Caring responsibilities can have a massive physical and mental impact on someone and we recognise that..

How do I start my carers membership?

You will be able to nominate up to 3 carers that will be linked to your membership. The 3 nominated people can be amended at any point.

Carers are welcome to access the facilities for their own physical and mental wellbeing while they’re with the person they support. The carers memberships can only be obtained in-centre and will last for 3 months. This can be renewed at reception when expired.

What do I get with my carers membership?

Gym, group exercises and public swimming is available to access. Pre-booking, via the Everyone Active app or website, is essential.

Do I need to complete an induction?

Yes, you will be directed to complete an online induction as part of the joining process. Upon joining you will receive an email with a link to your induction.

Everyone Active FAQ may be found on our website.

Pickleball for Parkinson’s

Hingham Pickleball club run weekly Pickleball for Parkinson’s sessions (PfP) specifically for people with Parkinson’s. Accompanying adults are welcome to join the fun!

Sport England and the National Lottery have awarded us £1310 to fund the start-up costs of the project. The sessions are being provided free of charge.

We supply the equipment. You should wear non -slip sports shoes (eg tennis type court shoes) and bring water.

Sessions will be held at the Hingham Sports centres, with up to 3 courts available. Ample free car parking on site.

Each session is led by one or more of the Hingham Pickleball leaders who have gained the Pickleball leaders certification from Pickleball England. They will be supported by a group of volunteers, including a couple of volunteers with Parkinson’s who have already discovered what a great sport this is!

After play we hope everyone can stay and join us for what we are dubbing ‘après Pickleball’. Thanks to some of our Pickleball bakers and the Hingham co-op supermarket, tea/ coffee and cake will be on offer – also free to all participants and those accompanying them.

We will run the sessions via our club Spond group so we ask you to email hinghampickleball@gmail.com, quoting ‘PfP sessions’ so we can send you the PfP sign up link.

Why Pickleball?

Regular exercise is a key element of living with Parkinson’s according to Parkinson’s UK.

Finding the right type of exercise that is fun is key to being able to sustain the activity; this is where Pickleball comes into its own. It’s a racket sport, played on a badminton size court with paddles and a plastic whiffle ball. The game is easy to learn and adaptable to different skill levels and physical limitations, making it a sustainable and enjoyable activity for many.

It’s a fun and sociable sport and a great way to maintain mobility, stimulate the mind, and connect with others.

For those with no mobility issues, we anticipate you will be able to play full games of Pickleball by the end of an initial introduction session. The rules of the game can be adapted for those with some limitations in movement (double ball bounces, no lobs etc). We also want to encourage players who don’t currently move so well, for example, if you use a stick for balance or have been inactive for a while.

For players with limited mobility, we will run drills with Pickleball leaders feeding balls so don’t worry if you aren’t up to running around a court.

When – Weekly every Friday

From 14:30 until 15:30

Cost No

Primary contact Hingham Pickleball
hinghampickleball@gmail.com

Location

Hingham Sports Centre
Watton Road
Hingham
NR9 4HD

Accessible parking available

https://localsupport.parkinsons.org.uk/activity/pickleball-parkinsons