Sporting event to introduce new Barnsley physical activity service

A new NHS service is being launched in Barnsley on Monday 14th May to help people who use local mental health services get more active to boost their health and wellbeing.

The new physical activity development team (formerly the sports development team) is part of the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which provides a range of community, mental health and learning disability services to the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.

The physical activity development team (PADT) works with acute wards and community teams in Barnsley to provide physical activity sessions for people who use mental health services in order to maintain and improve their mental health and improve their physical health.

As part of the launch the team will be holding activity taster sessions including dance and also introducing groups that are due to start in the summer .The PADT will also be heavily involved in the up and coming Get Active, Get Involved events, which are being organised across Barnsley by the Trust in support of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Speaking about the launch, physical activity assistant Jane Baker said, "This launch is a great opportunity for us to introduce the team and show off our new and improved service offer. We used to work mainly with people on hospital wards, but we are now able to provide support to community teams as well. With the help of our sports apprentices, also know as cadets, we’ll be able to support more people to maintain and improve their physical and mental health whether they are on an acute ward or living in the community."

For more information about either the event or the service contact the physical activity development team on 01226 434784.