Partnering with Parkinson’s UK
British Gymnastics Foundation and Parkinson’s UK Launch Love to Move Training Partnership
The British Gymnastics Foundation is proud to announce a new partnership with Parkinson’s UK that will expand the reach of our Love to Move programme and help more people living with long-term health conditions experience the benefits of movement.
Love to Move uses the basic principles of gymnastics to support improvements in memory, cognition, balance, coordination, flexibility and wellbeing, while also creating opportunities for people to connect socially and enjoy being active in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
Through this partnership, we will work together to train more Love to Move instructors across England, enabling more communities to access sessions designed to support people living with conditions such as Parkinson’s and dementia.
Our ambition is to support 46,000 people to regularly take part in Love to Move sessions by 2031. This partnership will grow the network of Love to Move instructors, enabling us to achieve that goal.
Training the Next Generation of Deliverers
The programme welcomes individuals from a range of backgrounds who are passionate about supporting others in their community. No previous experience as an exercise coach or instructor is required. New Love to Move training opportunities will be available in selected areas, including: Gloucestershire, Devon, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and South London. Community groups and local organisations interested in hosting or delivering sessions are also encouraged to get in touch.
Supporting People Living with Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s is a complex neurological condition that affects more than 40 different symptoms, including tremor, pain, and anxiety. Someone in the UK is diagnosed with Parkinson’s every 20 minutes, and the number of people living with the condition worldwide is expected to double to 25 million by 2050.
Louise Roberts, Head of Programmes at the British Gymnastics Foundation said:
“We are thrilled to have agreed a partnership with Parkinson’s UK, as we know our Love to Move programme can make a positive difference to the lives of people living with Parkinson’s. This partnership will enable us to train more deliverers, raise awareness of the benefits, and support more people across the UK.”
Anna Castiaux, Physical Activity Programme Lead at Parkinson’s UK, added:
“I am delighted that Parkinson’s UK has been able to agree this partnership with the British Gymnastics Foundation as it will offer more opportunities for people living with Parkinson’s to access supportive seated exercise classes in 2026.
Love to Move has been shown to have many benefits for a person’s physical and mental wellbeing and it can be a very accessible and adaptable way to live well with a long-term health condition. I would encourage anyone living with Parkinson’s, as well as their relatives and carers, to try one of the new Love to Move sessions in their area and see how the seated exercise classes could help them.”
Get Involved
If you would like to train as a Love to Move deliverer, or if your organisation is interested in bringing sessions to your community, we would love to hear from you. Complete this Expression of Interest Form or contact the British Gymnastics Foundation team at:
theteam@britishgymnasticsfoundation.org
Together with Parkinson’s UK, we are excited to take the next step in expanding Love to Move — reaching more people, supporting more communities, and helping thousands more people experience the benefits of movement.
