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We’re determined to provide access to training to enable the delivery of physical activity following cancer treatment

Exercise for cancer recovery changes outcomes

Mel Spooner, CAWS

Cancer is close to home for all of us and we’ve been proud to partner with the Battle Cancer Charity – with the support of Nike – to challenge the global fitness and medical industry’s view of exercise post-cancer while removing the stigma that can be associated with post-cancer exercise capabilities.

eighty-six per cent of those who are successfully treated for cancer experience debilitating levels of fatigue afterwards and at the three-year stage, a third of people are still struggling with the same physical limitations and issues. the most proven way to counteract this is through

Mel Spooner

photo: CAWS

Scott Britton, co-founder of Battle Cancer with Dr Col Robertson CAWS structured physical activity and graded exercise and with the help of facilities and coaches across the world, we’re determined to provide access to this kind of support. the Battle Cancer Programme level 1 Certification is now available, with proceeds from the sale of every course being split directly with Battle Cancer to its support ongoing fundraising.

CAWs insists on providing essential training and education that’s affordable and the costeffective certification focuses on supporting people after their treatment and teaches coaches and personal trainers how to deliver a new group training programme, providing late-stage rehabilitation for those who’ve experienced cancer.

We must create generational change and an active future

photo: getty Images/ a zIj o s32 y b m /unsplash

We need active lifestyles to flourish

Ian Fytche, CEO North Kesteven

Physical activity is at the heart of any definition of a flourishing community. Active lifestyles promote health and wellbeing and the network of facilities offering opportunities to be active creates community cohesion, social capital and economic development.

At North Kesteven we have a progressive strategy for physical activity and have invested significantly in facilities in Sleaford and at One NK in North Hykeham to reimagine and transform them into spaces for health, wellbeing and activity. We’ve also created long-distance routes across our district for walking and cycling.

We’re working with Integrated care system partners to tackle health inequalities and the social determinants of public health through investment in active lifestyles, housing options, and economic inclusion, with plans due to be launched in early 2023. We’re also advancing plans to decarbonise our leisure estate in pursuit of a sustainable net zero future and are working with partners to restore nature and promote biodiversity.

It’s a challenging time, but the future is active and the opportunity for positive generational change is one collectively we must grasp, globally, regionally and locally. Taking a lead from Sport England’s excellent strategy, Uniting the Movement, my hope is we can build local leadership and capacity to enable all our communities to flourish.

photo: n orth Kesteven

Ian Fytche Marc Jones

Having friendly staff increases the value customers place on their health club membership 2.2 times

Tread warily when going staffless

Marc Jones, Fitronics

I read with interest your debate about staffless gyms in HCM recently (HCM issue 9 2022 www.hcmmag.com/staffless)

Staffless and automated gyms which are available at all hours are becoming ever-popular and the industry is increasingly looking to this model due to the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis.

However, we know from our research that 87 per cent of members want to be engaged with a member of the fitness staff and that having friendly staff increases the value customers place on their membership 2.2 times. Without team members on the gym floor, it’s also a challenge to build a community.

Operators running successful staffless facilities have invested in digital solutions to support the customer journey, get feedback and motivate customers. Simply cutting staff without such an investment is a risk.

It takes effort to help customers