A INNOVATIVE fitness partnership between Places Leisure and Parkinson’s UK is having a positive health impact on Hampshire's Parkinson's community.

Launched in May, the 'Move and Shout' programme allows locals living with Parkinson’s an opportunity to get active and manage their condition better.

The scheme is piloted across five Places Leisure venues including the Andover Leisure Centre, which is operated by Test Valley Borough Council.

Funded by Parkinson’s UK, it's already proving popular, with evident benefits to those who actively participate.

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Each session is managed by a trained instructor, focusing on improving fitness, mobility and wellbeing of Parkinson's patients, whilst also promoting better understanding of the disease within the local community.

Mike Willis, healthy communities manager at Places Leisure, said: "It’s been really encouraging to see the progress of the Move and Shout classes in Andover and we hope that more people who are living with Parkinson’s will be able to take advantage of our classes.

"We are seeing firsthand the positive impact of exercise and physical activity for our Parkinson’s members and there is a real sense of camaraderie amongst the group."

These classes are tailored to all age groups and skill levels, proving beneficial even for those with balance and coordination issues or slower movements.

The sessions, which are affordable at £2.50 per person, are open for active involvement of relatives and carers of Parkinson's patients too. Bookings can be made on the Places Leisure website.

As an added benefit, people with Parkinson's in Hampshire can access free gym memberships, including induction. Regular check-ins with a Level 3 GP Exercise Referral instructor also provide consistent support.

Discounted memberships for the Places Leisure Exercise Referral Scheme are another perk of the programme.