Trust launches annual report with the help of its cover stars

A group of people with learning disabilities from North Kirklees celebrated their new-found fame when they were presented with copies of the Trust’s new Annual Report – that their group ‘Body Balance’ were the stars of.

The ‘Body Balance’ group were chosen to be the cover stars of the South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust’s Annual Report – ‘Our Year’. ‘Body Balance’ is a healthy living group aimed to encourage people with learning disabilities to keep fit and healthy. The group go to exercise sessions at local leisure centres and learn about diet and healthy living.

‘All the members of the body balance group were pleased to appear on the front cover of the Trust’s annual report. People with learning disabilities don’t always have an awareness or understanding of how to stay healthy. The aim of body balance is to get people with learning disabilities to become more active more often,’ says Darren O’Donovan, a therapeutic fitness instructor.

‘Our Year’ has been produced as a magazine and is being distributed to all GP surgeries across Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale as well as to partner organisations such as social services, Mind and local voluntary organisation.

The Trust is legally obliged to produce an annual report which includes statutory information such as the Trust’s financial activities, management costs, performance targets and progress on waiting times.

The report also includes a wide range of articles highlighting the achievements of staff and of people with learning disabilities and mental health problems.