Story supplied by Trish, Sheila’s daughter
Every Friday, Debbie Medlin leads the fun and welcoming MOVEability seated exercise class in Lambourn. The sessions are designed to help people stay active while going at their own pace, move with confidence and, most importantly, enjoy some company. For many, particularly those who are experiencing isolation due to mobility challenges, moving to a new area, retirement, redundancy, developing a chronic illness or changes in family circumstances, MOVEability is a lifeline.
Seeking Connection in a New Village
When 86-year-old Sheila moved to the quiet village of Baydon from Hertfordshire, she didn’t know many people. She was actively looking for a friendly way to keep fit and find new connections. She decided to give Debbie’s class a try, hoping for some gentle exercise and maybe a chat or two. What she found was so much more than that.
Finding the Connection
Sheila felt warmly welcomed by everyone in the group and looked forward to her weekly exercise and chat, then, after just a few sessions, she met Steph, who had also recently moved to Baydon. Despite living in the same village, their paths had never crossed until they joined the MOVEability class.
They immediately hit it off, bonding over their shared experiences of moving to a new area. Soon, their friendship blossomed: Steph began offering Sheila a lift to the class each week, which gave them an opportunity to chat and get to know one another beyond the class.
A Family Affair
The friendship didn’t stop with them; before long, it extended to include their families. Steph met Sheila’s daughter, Trish (who had also moved to Baydon), and introduced her to her own daughter, Jen.
All four women had arrived in Baydon around the same time, hoping to build a sense of community. Thanks to Debbie’s class, they found it.
Their shared activities now include regular coffee mornings, brunches, and painting classes, along with introductions to other village friends. In a sense, MOVEability became the catalyst for laughter, mutual support and lasting friendship.
The Outcome
MOVEability proved to be much more than just a way to stay active. For Sheila, Steph and their daughters, it was the key that helped to unlock a new life in their village. What appeared on the surface to be a weekly exercise class in the local leisure centre, turned out to be a place where people who might otherwise feel isolated can come together, move, chat and form meaningful, multi-generational connections.
For Sheila, Steph and their families, it’s been the start of something truly special.
See yourself or your loved ones in this story?
Try out a class. Find out what classes we have coming up.
