The Dales gets fit with kit funded by EyUp! charity

800 pounds has been turned into kilograms after The Dales received EyUp! funding to purchase new weights for their gym.

The gym on The Dales unit in Calderdale has always been popular, featuring a range of cardio equipment. Looking for a new challenge, service users fed back to the team that they’d like to include strength and resistance training in their workouts.

The unit turned to EyUp! charity for help with funding, and was successful in being awarded £860 to buy new strength-based gym equipment, mats, and posters to offer some workout inspiration.

The gym is used by all three wards in the unit – Elmdale, Ashdale and Beechdale. Occupational therapy and ward staff are trained in supporting people to use the equipment, and the unit physiotherapist also regularly uses the gym to provide 1:1 treatment for service users.

Occupational therapist Rebecca Moorhouse said: “As an occupational therapy team we always strive to provide activity that is meaningful to our service users, and as this had been requested often we applied for funding to assist us.

“We are always able to see the benefits of physical exercise. After the gym sessions service users feel as though they have achieved something and often have improved mood. Now we have more variety of equipment we have seen an increased uptake in use of the gym, particularly with our male service users.

“Without the funding it is unlikely we would have been able to purchase the equipment, so thank you EyUp! charity.”

The unit is hoping to grow the gym further with a range of weights and new equipment based on feedback.