Staff at Live Active Leisure are making sure those who need support are still getting it throughout the coronavirus lockdown.
With regular classes and programmes in Perth and Kinross postponed, the wellbeing team has taken to making wellbeing phone calls from home to ensure their customers are maintaining the good habits and life-changing routines they have come to enjoy.
Those using the wellbeing service are classed as ‘vulnerable’ meaning it was vitally important to keep support going through what is a difficult time.
Ian Hutton, wellbeing manager with Live Active Leisure, said: “Customers in both the activity referral classes and the Move More classes have usually been referred to us by a doctor or healthcare worker.
“In addition to this, our social circuit classes and health walks are mainly attended by older adults, or people with an underlying health condition.
“We knew, therefore, that anyone using our wellbeing services would be classed as ‘vulnerable’ during the coronavirus crisis and so last week we set to work checking in with everyone we had a number for to make sure they were feeling okay, and to offer some advice for at-home exercises that would be suitable for each individual.
Brakes are off for popular Bike Station
“The wellbeing community is often as much about social interaction as it is about the exercise itself, and because of the nature of our work with these customers, we are often part of a team of people who they come to rely on for their mental and physical wellbeing. We get to know them and they get to know us.
“Taking time to call round and just touch base with a ‘how are you doing?,’ seemed the easiest way of staying in touch – especially as some of our older customers aren’t as used to taking advantage of the new digital resources going up on the Live Active Leisure website.
“It has been great to speak to everyone and to offer some encouragement and ideas – some of our regulars have even ended up with an accidental wee hello from our kids.”
Ian and the team made the decision to include people currently awaiting their start date for an activity referral, with the aim of getting a start on exercise and boosting morale.
“We’ve called everyone we have a phone number for, including those waiting to start, and have made a commitment to check in with people as often as they feel they need contact,” he explained.
“None of us know how long this may go on for and we want to assure our customers that this is far more than a one-off courtesy call.”
Anyone who uses any of the Live Active Leisure wellbeing classes can receive a call from the team. Email wellbeing@liveactive.co.uk with a contact number stating which class or programme you usually attend.
