We want to say a big thank you to Sport England for awarding Trekstock's RENEW exercise programme £10,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England's Community Emergency Fund towards during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The outbreak of the virus and the consequent shutdown of businesses has left the sport and physical activity sector facing a period of uncertainty.

 

In response, on March 31 Sport England announced a £195m package to help the sport and physical activity sector through covid-19. Within the package is a £20m Community Emergency Fund, of National Lottery money to deliver immediate funding to those who have a role in supporting the nation to be active but are experiencing short-term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the impact of coronavirus.

 

The grant will allow Trekstock to continue supporting young adults with cancer to get moving. We want all young adults to experience the benefits that taking part in physical activity brings, whilst undergoing treatment, living through and beyond cancer.

Although exercise has been shown to dramatically improve mental and physical wellbeing outcomes for some cancer patients, only 23% of cancer patients meet the weekly recommended guidelines for physical activity. Therefore, Trekstock has been delivering a free transformational and group exercise programme called RENEW for 3 years. The programme (open to every young adult with any type or stage of cancer) has been externally evaluated, and our research has found that it had an improvement in a young adults' fitness, cancer related fatigue and physical and mental wellbeing. All sessions are tailored to individual needs, limitations and challenges. 

The programme is delivered by Level 4 Cancer Rehabilitation instructors and in consultation with them in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have adapted the programme to be delivered via online sessions for groups and individuals with cancer, providing dedicated support, advice and exercise plans so that these vulnerable young adults can stay active whilst in isolation. All sessions are delivered safely, with participants completing an online questionnaire which covers all elements of their health background, this is then shared confidentially with the instructors. 

 

Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England's Chief Executive, said: 

 

"As the body responsible for the growth of sport and physical activity participation, we want the vital grassroots organisations that make sport and physical activity happen in this country to not just to come through this crisis but to be in a position to thrive again in the future. The £20m Community Emergency fund, made possible by National Lottery players is part of a multimillion pound package of support we are providing to ease the pressure on a huge number of the organisations who are central to the nation's health and wellbeing.

 

"We are proud to be able to provide vital funding to Trekstock to help it through these extremely challenging times."

 

About Sport England 

 

Sport England is a public body and invests up to £300 million National Lottery and government money each year in projects and programmes that help people get active and play sport. 

It wants everyone in England, regardless of age, background, or level of ability, to feel able to engage in sport and physical activity. That's why a lot of its work is specifically focused on helping people who do no, or very little, physical activity and groups who are typically less active - like women, disabled people and people on lower incomes. 

www.sportengland.org