Disabled residents in Gloucestershire set to benefit from new therapy suite to increase physical activity

Disabled people throughout Gloucestershire will have more chances to get active after charity Leonard Cheshire launched a new therapy suite in Cheltenham.

Based in the charity’s Gloucestershire House care home, which supports 36 disabled adults, the new therapy suite is open to all disabled people in the region.

Residents at the home also have a new activity room and a revamped sensory room, a relaxing space for those with complex needs and everyone who lives there. All new facilities were funded by gifts in wills left to the charity.

Dave Evans, 57, uses an electric wheelchair and began living at Gloucestershire House this year.

He said: “Keeping active here helps me feel better. I love the chance to get my legs working. A new therapy room will take things to a new level. The workouts I will get will help me with my goal to lose weight too.”

At the launch event, Gloucestershire House staff demonstrated the latest equipment in the new therapy room, including an H-frame hoist, cardiovascular trainer and thera-bikes – specialist static bikes for physical conditioning.

Lesley Gamm, Service Manager at Gloucestershire House, said: “Our grand opening day was a brilliant day for everyone.

“Along with the fantastic new activity room, our state therapy room will be a huge benefit to local disabled people. And everyone had a chance to see brilliant Leonard Cheshire projects that will help disabled people throughout Gloucestershire.”

Leonard Cheshire also used the event to open its community projects to visitors, such as its new ‘Opening Doors’ scheme, which matches volunteers with local disabled people.

Additionally, visitors had the opportunity to try out outdoor inclusive cycling with Gloucestershire Wheels for All, which uses adaptive bikes to get people pedalling.

Gloucestershire House is a residential service with nursing care run by Leonard Cheshire. The service supports up to 36 disabled adults and includes six separate bungalows as ‘supported living’ accommodation.

It has a hydrotherapy pool, a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist, and offers a wide range of activities to residents.