Participant Spotlight - Audrey

Audrey, who is aged 87 and lives alone, started accessing Sport for Confidence services at Clacton Leisure Centre at the end of 2023 after her NHS Strength & Balance classes came to an end. To begin with Audrey joined our Seated Exercise group where, with the support of our Occupational Therapist and Coach, she worked on increasing her stamina and balance, building up her core strength to keep herself active enough to keep mobile and live a full and independent life. 

 

Whilst on holiday a few years ago, Audrey passed out while in a swimming pool and for a long time afterwards felt unable to go near the water. However, determined to be able to get back to enjoying swimming and exercising in the water, in February this year Audrey joined our Swim session at Clacton. After spending a few months with the support of our team, building up her confidence in the water again little by little and joining in with water aerobics and practicing swimming short distances, Audrey was able to swim a width of the swimming pool again and gained a certificate to prove it! 

 

 

Audrey has grown from strength to strength since she began accessing Sport for Confidence. She feels steadier in her mobility and continues to live independently as well as more able to enjoy her hobbies. Audrey loves the outdoors and enjoys gardening and time with her friends and family at her beach hut. Audrey’s hope was to spend time with her great grandchildren on the beach this summer and her determination made it happen. She even managed to go on a holiday overseas this year, returning to an area she regularly stayed and had loved in the past. This was a real achievement, and she was delighted to have been fit enough to be able to go out walking and enjoy the sites while she was there. 

 

Our team at Clacton are extremely proud of Audrey and everything she has overcome and has achieved over the last 12 months. Well done, Audrey!