Jemma Saunders is a Community Engagement Officer at Age Concern Hampshire. Working across the New Forest and South Hampshire, Jemma runs a range of social groups supported by dedicated volunteers. These groups provide vital opportunities for older people to come together, stay active, and build friendships in a welcoming, supportive environment.

Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund, Jemma has recently completed training with the British Gymnastics Foundation and is working towards accreditation to deliver the Love to Move programme. Love to Move is a gentle, chair-based exercise programme designed to support both physical movement and cognitive function. Delivered to music, the sessions use repetition and rhythm to encourage coordination, mobility and memory.

Jemma is among the first cohort at Age Concern Hampshire to undertake the training. We caught up with Jemma to find out a bit more about the programme and how it will really help those who attend our Social Groups and Care and Wellbeing Centres.

Jemma, can you tell us a bit more about the training you’ve been undertaking?

“The Love to Move course is run by British Gymnastics Foundation. It’s a two-week structured course run by a trainer and I’ve been enjoying it so much. I’ve had lots to learn and at the end of the course as part of my assessment, I had to deliver a Love to Move session to the trainer assessor, putting everything that I’d learnt into practice for a typical exercise session.”

It sounds great, and have you received a specific accreditation at the end of this training?

“Yes. Because it’s run by British Gymnastics Foundation, I will have a Love to Move accreditation meaning I am fully qualified to deliver these sessions in a group setting. This is a coveted accreditation and highly recognised. Not only will it benefit me in my personal professional development, I can already see how much it will benefit those taking the sessions with me. I’ve been running movement sessions for years but the Love to Move programme is a lot more involved and structured.”

So, can you share a little more about what Love to Move actually involves?

“Of course. Love to Move is a seated chair exercise programme. It involves gentle movement of different parts of the body. Individuals can move at their own pace. The session works to music with gentle routines, encouraging cognitive stimulation through slow movement. The programme uses repetitive music and rhythms to encourage muscle memory and familiarity.”

And how do you feel this benefits people taking these sessions?

“The first thing is just how much fun we have as a group. The sessions are full of laughter and I can honestly say that participants have become friends. It’s the kind of activity where you don’t realise just how good it is for you because you’re too busy having such a laugh. The release of serotonin as a result of exercise is really key as that continues to boost the mood long after the session has ended. Furthermore, taking the sessions consistently and regularly helps with staying mobile and building up memory muscle.”

It sounds like you all have a great time. So what would you say to someone who’s perhaps unsure about joining a session?

“That everyone is welcome and just give it a go. What we do is so beneficial not for the body and mind, but also feeling part of something and making friends. It feels so good after and it’s a bit like when we choose to go to the gym or for a run – you never regret it!”

Brogan Rehill, Head of Strategy, Partnerships and Community Impact at Age Concern Hampshire, said:
“This training is a great example of how The National Lottery Community Fund is enabling us to invest in our people as well as the communities we serve. By equipping our staff with specialist skills, we’re able to deliver high-quality, accessible sessions that support older people to stay active, build confidence and remain connected.

Programmes like this play an important role in prevention, helping people maintain their independence for longer while also creating welcoming spaces where friendships and community connections can grow.”

Age Concern Hampshire’s Living Well in Later Life project is a new five-year initiative, supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, helping older people across Hampshire stay active, independent and connected. Delivered through Care and Wellbeing Centres and local community venues, the project offers accessible physical activity and wellbeing sessions focused on improving strength, balance and overall health, while creating valuable social connections to reduce loneliness and isolation.

The Love to Move sessions are now being delivered at our Social Groups across Hampshire and for members attending our Care and Wellbeing Centres.

For details of when are where the Social Groups take place, please visit Social Groups – Age Concern Hampshire

For more information about our Care and Wellbeing Centres, please visit Care & Wellbeing Centres – Age Concern Hampshire

Alternatively, email enquiries@ageconcernhampshire.org.uk or call 01962 868545.