ACTIVITY FEATURE
( l to r ) Chloe Rosser , Amy Burdett , Brendon Pollard and Will Page
Positive changes The group has had a positive impact on the clients ’ physical health and wellbeing ; for some this has meant increasing their attendance at the gym , while for others it has provided the motivation to cycle more often .
Two clients have expressed a goal to purchase their own bike , while another two clients have asked to commence a voluntary role in the Ride On bike workshop . This highlights positive changes within the group regarding overall motivation , aspiration , and engagement in occupations meaningful to them .
The group has proved to be a valuable experience for our clients , who are often marginalised and experience occupational deprivation as a result of their mental health and criminal convictions .
Guidance published by Public Health England ( 2020 ) emphasises that becoming more active is beneficial for both mental and physical health through supporting social inclusion and reducing inequalities for individuals with long-term conditions . Feighan and Roberts ( 2013 ) identified that cycling was a meaningful occupation for their participants , with benefits including altered mind-sets , emotions and belonging , and connecting to others through cycling . The group has offered our participants opportunities to reduce social isolation while connecting with others through shared experiences .
It has been evident that the group has offered a meaningful occupation , along with an increase in physical activity , confidence and sense of self , and a positive change in the dynamic of conversations through engaging in a shared leisure occupation .
This is supported by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidance ( 2012 ), which recognises that active sporting occupations , such as cycling , promote mental wellbeing and has potential for therapeutic value .
The impact of the cycling group A total of six clients participated in the project , however , for different reasons , some were unable to attend every week . A questionnaire was devised to gather feedback from participants about how the group made them feel , and responses included : ‘ It makes me feel positive , motivated and mentally optimistic ’; ‘ It makes me feel proud of myself ’; and ‘ I feel happy and healthy ’.
All individuals were asked about their favourite part of the group and what they enjoyed . Responses included : ‘ It ’ s about being with other people ’; ‘ I like exercise and seeing different people ’; ‘ I enjoy exploring different places ;’ and ‘… exercising in general and getting my endorphins going ’.
It was important to establish whether engagement in the group increased individuals ’ confidence in cycling . To capture this all participants were asked to rate their confidence on a scale of one to 10 prior to joining the group and again after eight weeks , and people were unanimous in saying that the group was beneficial .
Staff at the supported accommodation service where some of the clients reside were asked whether they noticed any benefits for the clients who attended the cycling group , and one staff member said : ‘ One client is more motivated than he has ever been before ’. While another staff member expressed that ‘ the cycling group is now a part of their weekly planner , every week they go and they are happy to do so ’.
OTnews May 2021 43