I cannot help but see this as my 'pet project', as my passions in mental health are advocating the dramatic benefits of regular (group) exercise upon mental health and introducing new folk (and returners) to the life-changing benefits of physical wellbeing activities.

Back in 2005 – after  first starting work for AiW – I realised how easy it would be to add exercise and peer support groups to our services, using personal experiences from how I’ve maintained my own mental health through regular exercise.  I also knew (from having managed a Mind Community resource) that Peer Support Groups would be a great benefit to our Service Users and (though not strictly advocacy) would build a real energy around the organisation.  So in 2006 we started APEx Jogging club, Woodside Positive mental health Group and a (sporadic) swimming group.  

In August 2009, we thought that a positive way of seeing us through the bleak winter was a Winter Walking group.  It would help to punctuate darker days with pockets of warming, shared exercise across North Wales and Northern England.

Events that APEx Members have attended include many local and regional races – including Marathons,  ½ marathons, 10k’s and the Monthly Wirral Seaside races Triathlons.  Myself and Shaun Hodgekiss also took part in a great event to swim across the Mersey from The Echo Arena in Liverpool to Monks Ferry in Birkenhead.

Even though the main aim is to introduce and support people through beginning exercise routines, we do cater for all aspirations and we are planning our “Door-Step” challenges, where we hope to show that you can have fun, adventures and challenges literally on your own door step.  We are planning a local sea swim that will be the equal of many ventures further afield that people aspire to complete – so watch this space!

After affiliating to England Athletics, it’s great to see how what started as a little idea is flourishing and we have several peer support groups now.  We are about torecruit a development worker to bring all of our exercise and peer support groups closer together and develop them further.  The groups are very inclusive and can cater for all aspirations – the focus has always been upon the social aspects of being in an exercise club!

Please feel free to contact me for further details or any new ideas!

Chris Shaw

Cheif Executive, Advocacy in Wirral

Tel: 0151 650 1530