The Pioneering Care Partnership recently launched their outdoor Green Gym located in the community garden of the Pioneering Care Centre in Newton Aycliffe.

A section of the garden has been fitted with outdoor gym equipment – including a cross trainer, rowing machine, static bike and much more. This wouldn’t have been possible without the generous capital funding from Sport England. The range of new outdoor activities in the centre aims to create a relaxing, social space for everyone to enjoy. In addition to the funding from Sport England, Great Aycliffe and Middridge Area Action Partnership (GAMP) provided funding to support memory gardening and which has enabled PCP to employ a worker to develop sensory areas, memory trails and deliver sessions for the community.

PCP invited members of Sport England and GAMP to the launch of the outdoor gym and encouraged everyone to have an exercise session to experience the benefits of outdoor activities and fun social interaction.

Carol Gaskarth, PCP Chief Executive, explained, “When compared with exercising indoors, exercising in the natural environment is proven to help people to have increased energy and feel more positive or revitalised. Through funding from Sport England, PCP is able to offer use of the outdoor exercise equipment free of charge to groups and individuals and we hope this facility becomes very popular.”

Barry Knevitt, PCP Chairperson, added, “PCP’s mission is ‘Health, Wellbeing and Learning for All’ and we are continually thinking about how we can provide new services for local people and communities. The development of an outdoor gym at the Pioneering Care Centre provides a safe space for people to exercise and we are very grateful to both Sport England and Great Aycliffe and Middridge Area Action Partnership for their support.”

For further information about PCP please contact us at the Pioneering Care Centre, Carer’s Way, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 4SF tel: 01325 321234 email: enquiries@pcp.uk.net website: www.pcp.uk.net or follow PCP on Twitter: @PioneeringCare and Facebook: @PCPandCentre