We’re delighted to have awarded another £1,000 to Purposeful Active Living (PAL) to support their Strength and Balance exercise programme for older adults with long-term health conditions in Walsall.
PAL promotes physical and mental wellbeing through tailored physical activity sessions, with a strong focus on reducing isolation and improving mobility. Their sessions are designed to support older adults with conditions such as arthritis, Parkinson’s, dementia, respiratory disease, and coronary heart disease.
Each class is led by a qualified Postural Stability Instructor and combines resistance band work, aerobic movement, and flexibility training — all grounded in evidence-based practice.
Over 50% of adults with long-term health conditions are inactive, and falls are a major concern for older adults. Programmes like PAL’s Strength and Balance sessions are proven to reduce the risk of falls, improve mobility, and support independent living.
The sessions don’t just improve physical health. They also create opportunities for social connection, with time set aside after each class for refreshments and conversation. This helps participants build friendships, feel part of a community, and develop healthy lifestyle habits that support long-term wellbeing.
We originally granted £1,000 in early 2025 to provide the classes for free and they were so popular that a bigger venue was required. Our latest £1,000 donation has subsidised another 23 weekly sessions for 15-20 people, helping to remove cost as a barrier to participation and encouraging more residents to get involved.
Following the first round of classes, 90% of participants also said the sessions helped them feel more socially connected and less lonely.
85% of participants reported feeling physically stronger and more confident moving around their homes and communities.
Several participants who initially used walking aids reported increased confidence in walking short distances without support and gained greater independence to climb stairs and get up from chairs.
Kieran Franks, Development Manager at PAL, said: “This funding has been vital for us to sustain and develop a community offer of specialised physical activity, with a PSI level 4 qualified instructor.
“This evidenced based approach is helping to reduce health inequalities and with funding from GSA we are able to break down those financial barriers to reduce the inequality.
“Thank you to everyone at GSA as well as their partners, who have enabled us to develop this programme and reach adults with long term health conditions in Walsall, helping them manage their health independently.”
The fund is made possible thanks to generous donations made by some of our suppliers, as part of their social value delivery commitments.
One of these suppliers is SMS Environmental Ltd, who deliver our Legionella Risk Assessments, Periodic Inspections and Remedial Works, as well as free training sessions to GSA staff, their social value donation of £8,597 helped to fund the Strength and Balance sessions.