Tcv green gyms

Join In, Feel Good - How to pro-actively engage withTCV Green Gym

David Graham, Development Manager (Health)

2nd November 2012

Reclaiming green places since 1959

© The Conservation Volunteers 2012

TCV Green Gym

TCV Green GymReclaiming green places since 1959


Gym…but not as you know it!



TCV Green Gym

• Improving peoples health and well being by enabling them to take part in activities to improve their local environment

• Neighbourhood projects

• Collaboration between health and environment

• Practical activity to improve the environment

• Once a week or more



Typical Session:

• 3 to 4 Hours• Warm up and Cool

down• Health and Safety

Talk• Getting on with the

job!• Tea Break




TCV Green Gym

TCV Green Gym: Essential Criteria• Provide sessions of practical environmental volunteering or gardening which

are active, varied and keep peoples interest

• Take part in the evaluation of the benefits to participants by entering participant details into TCV’s ‘Count Me In’ and administering evaluation questionnaires.

• Follow safe practices, including first aid cover at all Green Gym activities and up to date insurance cover.

• At least one leader at all GG activities to have successfully completed the GG Training

• Encourage people to stay active either in the Green Gym or by signposting participants to other physical activity and green exercise programmes.



TCV Green Gym

Green Gym: History

• Established in 1997• Partnership between BTCV and Dr. Bird• Alternative to the gym - no lycra!



TCV Green Gym

Health Issues Addressed by TCV Green Gym

• Physical Activity • Mental Health• Social Inclusion and health inequalities• Linking people with their environment



TCV Green Gym

Felling Trees

Tree Planting

Walking

Cycling

Sitting

0 2 4 6 8 10

Kcal/min

Running

Digging

Aerobics

Weeding

Raking

McArdle,Katch and Katch, 1996




• Short programme Green Gym (Discover Green Gym)

• Employee Green Gym • “Quick start” Green Gym

Community Group• Community Green Gym• School Green Gym • Youth Green Gym• BTCV Green Gym Licence• Direct Delivery Green Gym

BTCV Green Gym development options in Scotland:


TCV Green Gym

• 412 participants surveyed



TCV Green Gym

•412 participants surveyed



TCV Green Gym

Benefits to Participants:• “Volunteering has helped me meet new

people, see new sites, and encourages me to leave the house”

• “Recently became a widow and the group has helped me when I'm feeling down or low. Everyone is friendly and sociable and I've made new friends.”

• “I've suffered from depression for a while so it's good to get a chance to get more active”

• “I feel it’s changed me by giving me more confidence to try new things, talk to new people and try something I’ve never done before. I was allowed to use saws and loppers. Feel healthier ‘cos it’s outside, and feel quite safe in the garden. I’m less angry ‘cos it gives me something to do and takes my mind off stuff.”


“I notice a difference in both my physical and mental health because I’m out doing something useful and meeting new people. I definitely feel happier in general. I feel valued because people pay attention to what I’m saying and have given me the opportunity to voice and use my ideas and creativity.”

People who may benefit from joining the Green Gym include those:

• with risk factors for CHD, diabetes or stroke • with chronic psychiatric conditions • recovering from drug or alcohol addiction• who are socially isolated• who are demotivated• who want to improve their physical fitness

Taking part in Green Gym sessions in a social environment helps build confidence and self-esteem through rewarding activities.

TCV Green Gym



Recommendation Guidelines

Most reasonably able-bodied people should be able to participate in the Green Gym. However, where moderate exercise may do more harm than good, the patient should not be recommended.

Contraindications to the Green Gym include:

• cardiac failure, unstable angina, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic stenosis, exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias, very recent MI (Cardiologist advice)

• uncontrolled severe hypertension• brittle diabetics, diabetic neuropathy • psychiatric illness with history of violence• uncontrolled psychoses• acute febrile illness

Further considerations:

• Any individual requiring assistance from a professional care worker, should be accompanied by the carer on Green Gym sessions. (Care workers would be expected to participate)

• For Health & Safety reasons TCV is not able to accept anyone displaying abusive or violent behaviour or those under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

TCV Green Gym



Recommending Patients to the Green Gym - 5 Easy Steps

• Establish patient is able to take part in light to moderate physical activity.

• Tell patient about the BTCV Green Gym and how it can improve their health.

• Offer patient a Green Gym leaflet and suggest they fill in the “Enquiry Form” to receive further information.

• Patient receives information and takes part in the Green Gym.

• Patient feeds back to Health Professional through ‘Feedback’ form.

TCV Green Gym





Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire:

• Has your doctor ever said that you have a heart condition?• Do you feel pain in your chest when you do physical activity?• In the past month have you had pain in your chest when you were not doing

physical activity?• Do you lose balance because of dizziness or do you ever lose

consciousness?• Do you have a bone or joint problem that could be made worse by a change

in your physical activity?• Do you have diabetes?• Do you have asthma?

PARTICIPANTS SIGN AND DATE.

MORE THAN 2 YES’s, REFER BACK TO GP/Health Professional


TCV Green Gym

New Craigs Hospital Green Gym

Benefits of Clients with a learning disability participating in the TCV Green Gym

• Physical exercise – both gentle and more taxing = overall health and wellbeing

• Working with others – team work, co-operation, meet new people

• Diversity of group – everyone brings something different

• Less isolated

• Sense of purpose/achievement/meaningful occupation

• Flexible way to attain a valued productive role

• Support workers - taught principles of active support

• Benefit to the hospital and environment – places where all patients can go to and enjoy and relax

• No pressure put on clients, most clients attend on a regular basis, however, some joined in on an ad-hoc basis

• Skills learned transferable to the home environment

• Sensory stimulation – tactile, auditory, visually, olfactory (smell)

Occupational Therapy – Learning Disabilities, Drumossie Unit, New Craigs Hospital, Inverness


David Graham Development Manager (Health)[email protected]

www.tcv.org.uk/greengym


© The Conservation Volunteers 2012TCV Green Gym

mailto:[email protected]

Tcv green gyms

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