Jarrow personal trainer using exercise to help older people combat loneliness and bring community together

Linda Jones, from South Shields, delivers low-level exercise sessions for older adults in Jarrow and Hebburn with the aim improving both their physical and mental health.

The classes, which feature a variety of different weekly exercises focus on weight loss and muscle retention, also have a strong social aspect and mental health is just as important as physical health, according to Linda.

She said: “ Older people are especially vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation and this can have a serious effect on their health which can lead to depression and a serious decline in physical health and wellbeing.

It’s really important to have a range of classes like this in the community which are easy for people to access to help stay active, be independent and avoid social isolation.”

Linda, who says she has a passion for fitness, retrained as a personal trainer 10 years ago after previously working in the NHS.

Linda’s ‘Work Out Chill Out’ classes have over 25 older adults taking part in exercise, socialising and making friends.

Thanks to the classes, elderly South Tyneside residents have made friends for life, forming a strong bond taking part in themed sessions, party nights and even going on holidays and day trips with each other.

In the future, Linda is hoping to expand the area in which she delivers classes and reach out even more into the South Tyneside community.