The Marlow Wombles, much like the original Wombles, are a group of volunteers, keen to make Marlow better by tidying and gardening where needed. It aims to help the well-being of those involved by providing exercise, socialisation and improving the community!

ith over 200 people benefiting from Accompanied Walks so far, our community outreach project is now firmly embedded as part of the Museum’s wellbeing offer.

The project provides an opportunity for members of the community who have little or no opportunity, or need some encouragement and support, to venture outdoors or interact with other people.

By spending an hour or so in the beautiful surroundings of the Museum, in the company of a friendly and knowledgeable volunteer, learning about our unique collection of heritage buildings and rare breed farm animals, Accompanied Walkers benefit from:

• A dose of ‘Vitamin green’ from being outdoors in a rural setting.
• The security of being in a supervised setting (as opposed to a public park) with toilets.
• A social interaction.
• The knock-on wellbeing benefits associated with the above, such as an increase in confidence, a greater ability to manage existing health conditions, and a diversion from negative thoughts.
• And most likely, pure enjoyment!

Are ready to start your stop smoking journey? What is your motivation?  As you will know, there are so many health benefits to stopping smoking such as:

After 20 minutes your pulse rate has returned to normal.

After 8 hours your oxygen levels are recovering and carbon monoxide levels have halved.

After 48 hours all carbon monoxide has cleared from the body and your sense of smell and taste are improving.

After 72 hours breathing will be easier and you will have more energy.

Between 2 and 12 weeks your circulation improves.

Between 3 – 9 months your lung function is improving.

After 1 year your risk of a heart attack compared to a smoker is halved.

After 10 years your risk of developing lung cancer compared to a smoker is halved.

Whatever your motivation might be, Live Well Stay Well are committed to helping you in becoming smoke free, let’s make this year count!

Having a healthy diet and keeping fit and in good shape is important for your overall health and well-being. It helps to reduce the risk of certain conditions including heart disease, stroke, some cancers, diabetes and osteoporosis. Ultimately, healthy eating helps you to feel great, have more energy and stabilises your mood. It is recommended that men have around 2,500 calories a day and women should have around 2,000 calories a day.

If you would like to eat more healthily or lose weight, Live Well Stay Well can support you.

Grow it Cook it Eat it is a community food growing and cooking project, bringing communities together.

Do you find buying fresh fruit and vegetables expensive or don’t really know what to do with the ones you do buy?  This project brings together communities who may experience financial hardship or have challenges accessing fresh fruit and vegetables together to provide spaces to use for your own growing and provide opportunities to improve your cooking skills and knowledge.

There is no membership, no cost and low to no commitment.
Grow it Cook it Eat it provides:

• An opportunity for volunteers of all ages and experience
• Access to free fresh fruit and vegetables
• Gardening activities that offer great low impact exercise
• Free cooking sessions that show you how to use fruit, vegetables and herbs to create tasty, healthy, low-cost meals for the whole family.

Live Well Stay Well provides the following for those who register an online account:

• Digital assessments in a range of Healthy Lifestyle areas to find out how healthy you are currently
• Online information and digital tools to help you choose what you would like to start to change
• Ongoing online help to set personal goals (and stick to them) to help you make the changes you have chosen
• Find out about and request a referral to a range of expert support services & programmes that can help you make healthy lifestyle changes, available via telephone support, face to face meetings in community locations or group sessions
• To register and use all the online tools is completely FREE! Most programmes which are available for you to refer yourself to are also FREE for those eligible to attend.
• For some programmes you can choose your appointment times and locations to suit you, from our flexible range of options and where you can’t, the service will get in touch with you, saving you having to follow up and spend lots of time on the phone
• You can choose how often you want to be contacted and how you want to be contacted (e.g. email/phone/text) to offer continued support with making the changes you choose
• 24/7 access to your online account and assistance from our staff is just a phone call or email away
• Support, advice, account registration and full assessment of your current lifestyle can be provided by telephone if you do not want to manage this yourself, via our website

You don’t have to take any action once registered, but all resources are available should you feel motivated to make changes. You can come back whenever you like.

BetterPoints Bucks is a new app that rewards you when you make healthy lifestyle changes. You earn points for being active and making other positive changes such as giving up smoking or getting support to lose weight. Points earned can be redeemed with local shops and businesses or donated to a choice of charities.

There are three simple steps to earn the rewards:

1. Download the BetterPoints Bucks app

2. Complete activities such as walking, cycling or wheeling and collect points

3. Spend your vouchers on the high street or donate to charity

Yoga therapy may help with many issues and medical conditions including anxiety, depresion, respiratory conditions, back pain, arthritis, heart conditions, digestive problems, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome (ME), fibromyalgia, RSI, migraine, insomnia and stress. It can be appropriate for a wide range of ages and lifestyles as well as those looking for a healthier way of life.

– Monday Chair Yoga 11.15am  @Wrights Meadow Center (£5)

– Tuesday Therapeutic Yoga 7pm @Marlow Bottom Village Hall (£12)

– Wednesday Chair Yoga 2pm @ The Band Room, Amersham (£10) – to start in January –

– Wednesday Hatha Yoga 5.45pm @the Cedar barns, Hazlemere (£11)

– Thursday Therapeutic Yoga 9.40am @ the Wellness barn, Marlow (£13)

The wellness barn is part of a non-profit social enterprise with an aim to reach a large amount of people within the community to offer classes, workshops, training and retreat days to bring more health, happiness, joy and connection to everyone.

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Want to feel wonderful? then I invite you to choose whichever class or workshop you feel attracted to and take the first steps to inner wellness.

We offer over 60 walks across Buckinghamshire.

Our trained volunteer walk leaders and backmarkers are there to help you walk at your own pace, with no need to worry about being left behind. However, please try and attend the level of walk you feel you can do.

All new walkers are welcome whether you are fit and active, haven’t exercised in a long time, or have been advised to join by a doctor.

Fun, casual drop-in standing yoga session for people experiencing mental health problems. All abilities welcome! Every Monday 2-3pm

Sport In Mind,

The Curzon Centre,

43 Maxwell Rd,

Beaconsfield

Fun, casual, drop-in Tai Chi session for people experiencing mental health problems. No experience or special equipment needed, just bring yourself. Everyone welcome! Every Monday 11:30-12:30PM

FIT Chairboys is a highly successful 12-week programme which is aimed at men and women aged 35 to 65 years olds, with a waist size above 38 inches (for men) or 31 inches (for women), and a BMI of over 28 who are looking to lose weight, get fitter and lead a more active life. Click on the website to book.