The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust runs the Churchill Fellowships, a unique programe of overseas research grants. These support UK citizens from all parts of society to travel the world in search of innovative solutions for today's most pressing problems.
The Fellowship was created by public subscription in 1965 as a living legacy of Sir Winston Churchill.
Having been honored, by being chosen this year( 2020) for a Churchill Fellowship, and in partnership with UKActive, it is my privilege to travel to Canada and the USA. for a total of 5 weeks, where I will begin researching, meeting with various persons, business and organisations, that currently provide, or are planning to implement low cost exercise. I hope to find a deliverable strategy to put forward in the UK, that will allow everyone to access exercise of their choice for a minimal cost, or better still, no cost at all.
WHY?- Exercise has played an enormous role in my life, from going to the gym, to standing on the top of some of the UK's highest mountains. I never feel as alive, as when I am exercising.
Having become more of a fashion statement, the price for engaging in exercise and sports has skyrocketed over recent years and with the closure of youth centers and growing outsourcing of council leisure facilities to other providers, I have seen more and more people priced out of the sports and exercise they once enjoyed.
When some council run gym facilities charges are over £6, for a singular gym session and free swimming in term time for children; at some facilities, is before 9am weekday mornings, when most children and parents are getting ready for school, it is no wonder obesity and ill health is a rising concern!
It is time we re-evaluate how we prioritise exercise. At the moment some forms of exercise and sports are limited to those who can afford to participate, but surely we can all see the benefits to health and even the mental well-being of social inclusion when participating in sports and exercise.
Follow me as I journey to Toronto, New York and Hawaii to try to find a genuine solution and workable strategies that are relevant to a modern societies exercise needs.
The Fellowship was created by public subscription in 1965 as a living legacy of Sir Winston Churchill.
Having been honored, by being chosen this year( 2020) for a Churchill Fellowship, and in partnership with UKActive, it is my privilege to travel to Canada and the USA. for a total of 5 weeks, where I will begin researching, meeting with various persons, business and organisations, that currently provide, or are planning to implement low cost exercise. I hope to find a deliverable strategy to put forward in the UK, that will allow everyone to access exercise of their choice for a minimal cost, or better still, no cost at all.
WHY?- Exercise has played an enormous role in my life, from going to the gym, to standing on the top of some of the UK's highest mountains. I never feel as alive, as when I am exercising.
Having become more of a fashion statement, the price for engaging in exercise and sports has skyrocketed over recent years and with the closure of youth centers and growing outsourcing of council leisure facilities to other providers, I have seen more and more people priced out of the sports and exercise they once enjoyed.
When some council run gym facilities charges are over £6, for a singular gym session and free swimming in term time for children; at some facilities, is before 9am weekday mornings, when most children and parents are getting ready for school, it is no wonder obesity and ill health is a rising concern!
It is time we re-evaluate how we prioritise exercise. At the moment some forms of exercise and sports are limited to those who can afford to participate, but surely we can all see the benefits to health and even the mental well-being of social inclusion when participating in sports and exercise.
Follow me as I journey to Toronto, New York and Hawaii to try to find a genuine solution and workable strategies that are relevant to a modern societies exercise needs.