Sandwich some exercise into your working day – we did!

A flurry of emails one Wednesday afternoon and Kent County Council had organised it’s own lunch hour walking mob.  Twice a week the mob gets people away from their desks and into the fresh air for a good walk and some exercise designed to combat the effects of office life.

KCC set up the mob when they started supporting the activmob initiative.  “We wanted to practise what we preach” says Lawrence Oke, a project manager at the Council and a keen sportsman who used to represent his state in cycling when he lived in Nigeria.  

Lawrence and Catherine helped lead the first mob through their brisk one hour walk around Maidstone Millennium Park and developed an exercise routine that could be carried out on route.  “The routine is designed to stretch the muscles that don’t get exercise when they are cramped behind a desk, we also do hand exercises designed to prevent against Repetitive Strain Injury.

It doesn’t seem to be just the mobbers who are benefiting from this new activity – the organisation is too through increased productivity: “I feel so much better in the afternoon – I feel awake and energised after fresh air and exercise” says Catherine.  We expect the mobbers throughout the county to be racing up the corporate ladder at this rate.

Now that the mob is set up and running smoothly the co-ordination is shared between three or four colleagues.  Every week would-be mobbers get reminders and routes by email and there’s a healthy discussion about which route to take.  Lawrence is now working on the next thing; the walking mob has been experimenting with Nordic Walking (the one that looks like skiing without skis) and he’s signing up members to start a badminton mob…watch this space.

What? KCC Lunchtime walking mob. Who? For employees of KCC working at head office in Maidstone

When & where? Lunchtime Tuesday and Thursday

Contact:
Bev Hillstrom on 01622 221933 or email Beverley.hillstrom@kent.gov.uk
Helen Connolly on 01622 694382/6068 or email Helen.Connolly@kent.gov.uk

Singing: As good as chocolate (but without the fat)…

…that’s according to Sue and she’d know – she leads the Folkestone based ‘Local Vocals’ singing mob. According to Sue “Singing releases endorphins that relax you and make you feel good. – plus the actual exercise of singing is beneficial to the lungs, posture, the stomach and back muscles.”  The good news is that you don’t have to have great voice to join in and experience the benefits – “We always say as long as you can talk you can sing”

Local Vocals embraces the activmob spirit in that it’s an informal affair.  You don’t stand in rows, and you don’t need to read music.  Songs are learnt by ear and it’s a long way from school choir: “It’s amazing the number of people that come to us who’d been told to ‘keep quiet and just mime’ in the school choir and now discover that they actually have a voice and can share in making some beautiful sounds that really lift the spirit.”

Meetings take place throughout the week in the Folkestone area and all sessions start with a gentle warm up and breathing and body awareness exercises. And don’t be confused by the name, Local Vocals is everything but local.  Join in and you’ll find yourself singing harmonies from around the world: African, Gospel, Bulgarian, Soul, Jazz, S. American, Taizé chants, – you name Local Vocals sing it.
 
What? Local Vocals Singing Group Who? Everyone - no singing experience required.  “If you can talk you can sing"

When and where?
7 July and 4 August: Workshops at the Chichester Hall Sandgate nr Folkestone followed by open workshop/performance on The Leas Bandstand in Folkestone. Training is on-going, dates and time will always be posted on the website.

Cost: £5-£10 with Concessions available for low earners & unemployed

Contact: Sue on 01303 210456 or e-mail local.vocals@yahoo.co.uk

Amble & Chat

John and Jennifer Naylor started the Horsmonden Village Amble after they’d enjoyed taking part in similar walking groups in villages that they’d lived in before.  They thought that starting up walks in Horsmonden could help foster a sense of community spirit and gets them some fresh air.    
The group of 5-18 people from the area, who are mostly retired, take short walks, usually on the 3rd Sunday of each month with the walk route emailed to members 3 weeks before the walks take place.

After a brief spell away from the walking due to a knee operation John is back leading the mob.  The group started with friends and has grown through advertising in the local parish magazine. “We would certainly like to see some more people joining us – of any age” The walks are 3 or 4 miles and although they started around Horsemorden the intrepid Amblers are now exploring other areas of the county.

What? Horsmonden Village Amble Who? Everyone

When and where? Usually on the 3rd Sunday of each month

Contact: John Naylor or Jennifer Naylor on 01892 722623 or email kosbirdie@madasafish.com

 

Walk & Talk

If you’d like to walk more, but couldn’t handle a 2 mile hike – yet then you could join the 20min Walk and Talk Group that leaves from the Stour Centre Ashford every Wednesday.  As well as improving fitness the walk is also about people getting to know others and socialising. Everyone is welcome including dogs, provided they are on a lead and under the owner’s responsibility.  

The group was started by library staff from Western Avenue and Braethorp – but they aim for volunteers to take over the running of it soon.  The group is currently small but expanding with more names being put forward on a daily basis.

Once you’ve built up your stamina with these walks you’ll be able to join the one hour walk leaving from Ashford Library, ask Clare for details.

What? Walk and Talk Mob Who? Open to everyone, dogs also welcome on a lead

When and where?
Leaves from Ashford Stour Centre entrance at 11:20 am every Wednesday

Contact: Clare Roberts on 01233 204026 or email clare.Roberts@ekentmht.nhs.uk

 

Ability counts when it comes to football!

Two Kent teams are looking for keen players to join their squad and enjoy a good game of footie.

The Shepway Wanderers Disabled Football Club are looking for players who are 16 + who have a physical disability, mental health problem or have been statemented at school.  Their team, which was founded in 1996, play in the London and South East ability counts football league championship see www.lseabilitycountsfootballleague.co.uk

Alternatively if you use Kent’s Mental Health services you could join the Football mob set up by the Ashford mental health team who meet weekly for training sessions and play friendly matches with other teams in the area.  Darrel and Paul – staff from Ashford Mental Health Team, who sing the benefits of physical activity for mental heath, jointly run the team.

What?
Ashford Mental Health Team Football Mob  Who? Users of Kent’s Mental Health services

When & where? Weekly training sessions (Thursdays) at Ashford Stour Centre plus friendly matches

Contact: Darrell Woodward or Paul Roberts on 01233 204026 or email darrell.woodward@kent.gov.uk, paul.roberts@ekentmht.nhs.uk

What? Shepway Wanderers Division Football Club

Who? Players 16 + who have a physical disability, mental health problem or have been statemented at school.

When & where? Indoor training at the valley leisure centre in Cheriton Folkestone on Wednesdays 5.30 pm - 7 pm. Outdoor training in Coolinge lane Folkestone on Sundays

Contact:
Nic Streeter on 01303 224251 or email nic.streeter@kent.gov.uk

Yoga, the secret of stress free Fridays

Friday at Kent County Council’s Queens House office: Whilst everyone else is frantically rushing around to finish the week’s work Alison and the members her mob exude an inner calm. Their secret? Yoga.  Before everyone else got to work they relaxed their minds and bodies with the eastern exercise, that helps harmonise the mind and body, as well as improve flexibility and overall wellbeing.  “We work within a very stressful Duty Team and have found these Friday morning sessions crucial to a having a stress-free Friday, if there's any such thing on Friday's in Duty!”

The class is committed – they have to be, sessions start at 7:15am for an hour, in meeting rooms that are free at that time.  “Yes it's early” admits Alison who runs the sessions “on dark winter mornings this has proved hard but the class has now been running for over 6 months”.  

Like many workplace mobs the Early Morning Yoga Group got started because of the fitness expertise of one team member; in this case Alison who has been yoga teacher for 20 Years.  It seems that if you want to start your own workplace mob it mightn’t be a bad idea to ask your colleagues about their expertise and experience.  You never know - you may find a former Olympic runner, a badminton coach or even a yoga instructor.

What? Early Morning Yoga Group Who? Kent County Council team members at Queens House: places are limited

When and where? Friday 7:15 am for an hour

Contact: Alison Graves - 01303 224303 or email alison.graves@kent.gov.uk