The project is led by Little Victories in the Community, whose mission is to change lives through inclusive sport and activity.
LV Active sessions aim to build confidence, reduce isolation and empower people to move more in a relaxed and judgment free space.
Sophie Bartup, one of the activity leaders from LV Active, tells us:
“We know that for many people living with long-term conditions, the idea of exercising can feel daunting. This project is about changing that and creating a space where people feel welcome, supported and able to enjoy movement again. It’s about celebrating the small steps, the little victories, and helping people feel good in their own bodies.”
Sessions are completely free thanks to funding from Sport England’s Movement Fund and run every Tuesday evening from 7–8pm and Thursday lunchtime from 12–1pm, making them accessible to a broad range of participants, whether they're working, retired or managing a flexible routine.
Sessions involve gentle movement, games and social interaction. It’s all about moving more, having fun, and improving wellbeing in a way that works for each individual. You don’t need to have been active previously as activity can be tailored to individual needs and requirements.
Active Humber recently visited a LV Active session to see how things are going, meet the participants and get ourselves active.
Once everyone has arrived, after a quick catch up and chat we head to the sports hall to get started. After a warmup and some gentle stretching we get into some chair-based exercise and movement to increase the heart rate. Resistance bands are introduced to make the exercises more challenging for those that want to utilise them.
We then move on to some boccia, a brilliant and inclusive sport that can be enjoyed by anyone. We play in pairs and there’s plenty of competitiveness on display as well as some impressive boccia skills.
An hour soon flies by and we head to the café for a well-deserved coffee where Active Humber caught up with LV Active participants Holly and Anne.
Holly tells us:
“I prefer lighter exercise as I have fibromyalgia. I’ve tried other exercise classes and sessions but always found it too much for me. I knew about Little Victories in the Community through the CP football sessions they run so I decided to give LV Active a go. I came to the second week and I’ve been coming here ever since. I really enjoy the sessions, it gets me interacting with more people and we all have a laugh and joke. Sophie and Steph are fantastic and will always adapt activities to suit your needs.”
Anne was introduced to LV Active by Holly and says:
“I live on my own now and I think as you get older it is important to keep moving. I’ve always been an active person but I’ve had surgery to my spine and also have arthritis but I think keeping active and moving helps to keep me going. We do lots of different activities, boccia, kurling, stretching, chair-based activity and lots more. It’s a lovely group and everyone is friendly and encouraging.”
Sophie and Steph from Little Victories Active told Active Humber:
“Little Victories Active aims to create an inclusive, multisport community for individuals aged 18+ who may have been inactive due to long-term health conditions or other barriers. We offer a supportive and welcoming environment, where the focus is on celebrating small steps of progress, boosting confidence, tackling social isolation and enjoying movement in a welcoming space. Little Victories Active is more than just an exercise class, it's a movement towards a more confident, connected, and healthier community.”
LV Active is a fantastic project having a real impact in the community. If you want to get involved then it’s happening at Baysgarth Community Hub on Tuesdays (7-8pm) and Thursdays (12-1pm).
LV Active is funded by Sport England’s Movement Fund, where community projects can apply for up to £15,000 to increase activity and get people moving. Find out more information here.
If your group, club or organisation are thinking of applying to the Movement Fund, Active Humber can offer guidance and support to give your project the best chance of being successful.
Finally, Sophie and Steph from LV Active give us their 5 top tips for a successful Movement Fund Application:
