Popular Exeter badminton sessions featured on international TV

Inclusive badminton and walking sessions run at a sports centre in Exeter have been featured on international television.

More than 120 people attended a launch event for the sessions at Wonford Sports Centre a few weeks ago and now the popularity has caught the eye of NTV, a national TV Channel in Bangladesh.

A summer of free physical and sports activities across the city was launched earlier in the month by Inclusive Exeter in partnership with Live & Move, the Sport England Local delivery Pilot for Exeter and Cranbrook which is designed to make lives better by encouraging people to be more physically active every day.

Run by members of the various ethnic minority based community groups and associations, under the Inclusive Exeter umbrella, the activities aim to reach people from those communities for whom access to sports facilities and group activities can be limited or present certain social or language barriers.

Babu, of the Devon Bangladeshi Association, who runs the weekly sessions, said: “I was amazed that NTV, a national TV Channel in Bangladesh picked up on the news, they are very popular in the UK among Bangladeshi Communities.

“We had a fantastic turnout and a great start to the sessions. We now have 10 to 15 people attend every week in the walking group and 20 to 30 people attend Badminton every Sunday.”

Kate Hannon of Inclusive Exeter said: “Something I particularly like about the Walking Groups is how friendly everyone is. We don’t just get physical exercise, we get chance to talk and put the world to rights - all very therapeutic and builds you up for the rest of the week.”

The ‘well being’ park walks lasting for about an hour and are a gentle but effective way of getting some exercise, fresh air and meeting new people. People just need to turn up on the day and join in. Regular Park Walks will be taking place over the coming months from Wonford and St Thomas.

Cllr Josie Parkhouse, Lead Councillor for Leisure Services & Physical Activity, said: "It's great to see so many people getting active in Exeter through the new Inclusive Exeter initiative which has now been picked up by international media! It is fully deserved recognition as it is a fantastic example of bringing people and communities together to be more active and improve wellbeing.”

She added: “We are working towards becoming the most active city in the UK and want residents of all backgrounds, ages and abilities to be more active. The work of Live and Move delivered by Inclusive Exeter is critical in achieving this goal as a city and I applaud all the hard work of those involved."

Other activities as part of the programme over the summer include Volleyball, held at the Riverside centre every week and led by members of Exeter's Afghan community. There will be Zumba classes, run by Filipino Association, every weekend at Newtown Community Hall and women's Yoga sessions, held at The Mint Methodist Centre, each week.

All activities are free and open to anyone, and are a great way to get more active, meet people and improve both physical and mental health in the process.