Saving Steady Steady
Our Staying Steady programme helps older people in City and Hackney maintain their strength and balance and avoid falls through a 24-week programme of community-based exercise classes. London Borough of Hackney has decided not to recommission the service from April 2025 - a huge loss for older people who are feeling worried about falling and maintaining their independence.
Our Trustee, Takumba Lawal, has benefitted from attending Staying Steady classes herself and writes below about the impact the classes have had for her.
After a 6 week home based physio programme in 2023, my physio referred me to this life saving treatment. I had to wait a little as spaces only come up when someone finishes the course, but it was so worth it.
The programme was excellent in every way. A calm, clean and safe place with excellent access for me as a wheelchair user at The Redmond Centre. As it was a 24 week course, there was really time to gain confidence and balance in a very supportive and caring environment. It created a really positive learning experience for us. People who were very isolated were enabled to come, and we had time to develop relationships which motivated us all to complete the course.
The best bit was that each of us had to complete the 24 weeks, but could do so flexibly. If we missed a session for an appointment or illness, we were never punished and a session was just added on at the end. This is the first time I’ve experienced this. Usually you get kicked off or just have to start again.
My balance is so much better now and at 72, this feels like a miracle.
Preventing falls is so important for long-term health and wellbeing. It must save money for health and care services, and in other ways for Hackney Council.
Together with colleagues in the NHS, we are lobbying commissioners for to reverse this decision. We want them to find a way to ensure older people continue to have access to this type of evidence-based exercise that is proven to reduce falls and save money for the Council and NHS.
