Skip to main content

Emily’s story

In this blog, we spoke to Emily from Sense in Rotherham to learn how she and her team have used the Get Yourself Active Social Care Activity pack to support Disabled people to get active.

Reading Level: Medium
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Last year, we launched a new online pack designed for carers, support workers and personal assistants who support Disabled people and people with long term health conditions.

We created the pack alongside experts in the social care and physical activity sectors, including Durham University, Sport England, Sense, Sport for Confidence, Activity Alliance and Community integrated care.

To better understand how the effects the using the pack has had on Disabled people, we spoke to Emily, who has used the pack to support Disabled people in Rotherham.

A Fresh start

Working at Sense in Rotherham, Emily had been appointed a champion for sport. This meant that it was really important for her always to be looking to innovate and try new things to help support the Disabled people in her team’s care to be active.

The social care pack was sent to her by a colleague, and immediately she put it to use with her users. The worksheets and tools given in the pack made it easy for her to know how to start and provided a natural way to progress things with those she cared for.

She’s used it often, and she has shared it with colleagues. They all utilise elements of the pack every day that they are open. We now have one physical activity in place every day of the week. The pack has made a world of difference.

Emily told us that getting active has become “something they look forward to” for those she cares for. By using the toolkits in the pack, they have been able to work together on new things and build healthy routines.

“The feedback has been really positive. Before it wouldn’t be as hands-on deck. There’s been much more involvement and all smiles!”

A different kind of support

Emily found the guide on navigating conversations with those with complex needs especially helpful. It has allowed her to work with them to rethink ” physical activity”.

“Dance or Pound have gotten more attention from individuals. [The pack] is about finding things that suit them”.

Using the pack has led the team in Rotherham to really explore what they can do. Hiring a trampolining hall, for instance, to let their users try something completely different.

As Emily explained, “The pack is different from what they use differently”. Having not had direct training on motivating individuals in one on one settings, the pack was able to “open a lot of my colleagues’ eyes”.

Now everyone feels confident to talk to people about getting active and rethinking how they’ve done things.

A permanent change

A crucial part of using the social care pack for Emily was how it helped her rethink what she thought about physical activity. As someone who’s “always been physically active”, it was a healthy refresher on existing options. She has seen first-hand how the pack has deepened understanding amongst her team about physical activity and how to support it.

 

And lastly, using the pack has received very positive feedback from the people she supports. Emily has seen how much they enjoy activities that have them at the centre. This person-centric focus is a key aspect of the activity pack, and we were very pleased to see it taken on board. Emily cites this approach as very important to increase the level of participation and engagement she has seen.

 

“The feedback has been really positive. Before it wouldn’t be as hands-on deck. There’s been much more involvement and all smiles!”

Next Steps

We want to hear from you!

We want to hear from you if you support Disabled people to get active. Whether you are a social worker, health care worker, carer, we want to share your story.

Click here to get in touch with our media team

Stay in touch with Get Yourself Active

Never miss an update by following us on twitter @GetYrselfActive and signing up to our newsletter.

Click here to sign up to our newsletter