We Push Ducks Foundation working with the Salvation Army, helping the homeless.

Our project aims to encourage people affected by homelessness in Eastbourne to take part in regular physical activity, while learning and engaging in positive social interaction during health and wellbeing focused workshops.

Our idea came about after hearing local MP Stephen Lloyd raise concerns about homelessness and street drinking in the town. Lloyd said, “if it’s not addressed at least two things will happen: firstly, it will get worse and secondly, it will begin to have a seriously demoralising effect on ourselves across the wider Eastbourne community.” Not having a home can make it harder for individuals to find a job, stay healthy and maintain relationships. They are more at risk of experiencing feelings of isolation and low self-worth, taking drugs or experiencing physical or mental health problems. As problems become more complex, anti-social behaviour, involvement with the criminal justice system and acute NHS services become more likely.

We spoke with local homelessness charities or projects that work with the homeless like the Matthew 25 Mission, Salvation Army and STAR, the East Sussex Drug and Alcohol Service, and following their feedback developed this fitness and wellbeing programme to help the homeless. It comprises weekly sessions over a year consisting of a one-hour instructor-led indoor and outdoor exercise class. Exercise classes include a mixture of aerobic and resistance-based exercise, while the workshop content ranges from general health and wellbeing discussions to peer support worker training. Workshops are sometimes supplemented by outside speakers who attend to run specific sessions on topics such as drugs and alcohol awareness.

Research has shown that exercise can improve not only physical health but mental and emotional well-being. It has been evidenced that exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and cancer. Exercise also relieves depression and anxiety.

Taking part in regular group classes will increase opportunities to interact with other people, build teamwork, increase self-confidence and self-esteem, and keep the participant focussed on the positive side of life. We can also offer them a basic sense of self-respect and from that raise their aspirations, while getting fitter and healthier.

We will promote our project with local homelessness charities and local media such as the Eastbourne Herald and Eastbourne Buzz.

We will involve participants in the design, development and delivery of the activities by asking them to suggest locations for classes, feedback on how the sessions are being delivered and suggest topics for health and wellbeing focused workshops. There will be opportunities for the participants to inspire others by becoming peer mentors, welcoming and supporting new members to the group and promoting our project in the wider community. Peer mentors will be able to demonstrate exercises to other participants (rather than train, which requires formal qualifications and insurance – though we can signpost them to accredited courses if they are inspired to become trainers themselves).

Through our project we hope to learn new ways of supporting homeless people and starting them on their journey to integrate in our local community.