Parkinson’s UK and the British Gymnastics Foundation Launch Love to Move training offer
A new partnership between Parkinson’s UK and the British Gymnastics Foundation is looking to train more instructors to deliver their innovative Love to Move programme.
What is Love to Move?
Love to Move is the UK’s largest seated exercise programme designed specifically for participants living with Parkinson’s, dementia or lower mobility levels and offers an opportunity to enjoy movement in a safe, relaxed and social way.
The British Gymnastics Foundation are aiming for 46,000 people to be supported by the programme and participating regularly by 2031.
Based on the basic principles of gymnastics, sessions are designed to improve flexibility, coordination and balance, as well emotional well-being and social connection.
Love to Move was developed and tested in care homes and with community groups and now British Gymnastics Foundation are training instructors across the country to give access to more people living with long term health conditions.
Love to Move training sessions will be available in selected areas of England, including:
- Gloucestershire
- Devon
- Herefordshire
- Worcestershire
- South London
The aim of the new partnership is to train more instructors to deliver the Love to Move classes and in turn to help more people live well with long term health conditions, such as Parkinson’s or Dementia.
No previous experience of being an exercise coach or instructor is needed and anyone interested in becoming a Love to Move instructor should complete an expression of interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTZmKN4U5JcWLnwbcvj-FOBzJZ9c_DfXEm87Dz8tX-7Xdxbg/viewform
Community groups and local organisations can also learn how to instruct or deliver a Love to Move session by contacting the British Gymnastics Foundation.
Love to Move is shown to have some of the following benefits for people living with Parkinson’s:
- Improved balance and coordination
- Better strength, flexibility and mobility
- Improved sense of wellbeing and mindfulness
- Better memory and cognitive skills
- Greater social interaction
- Improved speech and communications skills
Anna Castiaux, Physical Activity Programme Lead at Parkinson's UK, said:
"I am delighted that Parkinson's UK has been able to agree this partnership with the British Gymnastics Foundation as it will offer more opportunities for people living with Parkinson's to access supportive seated exercise classes in 2026.
"Love to Move has been shown to have many benefits for a person's physical and mental wellbeing and it can be a very accessible and adaptable way to live well with a long term health condition.
"I would encourage anyone living with Parkinson’s, as well as their relatives and carers, to try one of the new Love to Move sessions in their area and see how the seated exercise classes could help them.”
Louise Roberts, Head of Programmes at British Gymnastics Foundation, said:
“We are thrilled to have agreed a partnership with Parkinson’s UK, as we know our Love to Move programme can make a positive difference to the lives of people living with Parkinson’s. This partnership will enable us to train more deliverers, raise awareness of the benefits, and support more people across the UK.”
To register for a Love to Move Deliverer course, complete the expression of interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTZmKN4U5JcWLnwbcvj-FOBzJZ9c_DfXEm87Dz8tX-7Xdxbg/viewform
For more information about the Love to Move programme and how you can get involved, contact Louise Roberts on theteam@britishgymnasticsfoundation.org
