Parkinson UK and Plymouth Active therapeutic swim and Good Boost

Every session has reached full capacity, with some participants travelling up to an hour to attend. The combination of tailored aquatic activity and post-session social time has helped build confidence, improve mobility, and reduce isolation. The consistently positive feedback highlights the value of community-based programmes in supporting long-term health conditions and creating meaningful social connections.

Individuals living with Parkinson’s often face mobility issues, balance problems, muscle stiffness, and fatigue, which can make traditional exercise difficult or intimidating. Many also experience anxiety about returning to exercise or using public facilities, which can lead to social isolation and a reduction in physical activity.

Swimming and aquatic activity provide a low-impact, supportive environment where participants can move more freely, improve strength, flexibility, and balance, and manage symptoms of Parkinson’s in a safe way. The water reduces joint strain, encourages confidence, and promotes social connection, helping participants maintain an active lifestyle and overall wellbeing.

We partnered with Parkinson’s UK to deliver free swimming and Good Boost sessions tailored specifically for people living with Parkinson’s. These sessions provide a safe, supportive, and structured environment where participants can re-engage with physical activity. We have the added benefit of introducing the participants to Good Boost, Good Boost is a water-based rehabilitation programme designed to be fun and beneficial for people with a range of musculoskeletal conditions and long-term health conditions. This includes tablet computers and artificial intelligence to give you a personalised aqua workout that is specifically designed to help with your MSK condition and improve your mobility, balance and fitness.

The programme also includes post-session social time, helping participants build confidence, reduce isolation, and feel part of a community. By bringing the sessions into a community-based setting, we made exercise accessible and welcoming, even for those who had previously avoided physical activity.

Working with Swim England, we achieved Water Wellbeing Accreditation, ensuring high-quality, inclusive aquatic provision. This collaboration has enabled participants to safely re-engage with physical activity, improve their wellbeing, and feel supported both physically and socially.

We have been running the Parkinson’s swimming sessions for six weeks, moving into the seventh week (21/11/2025), and every session so far has been fully booked. The programme was originally designed to support ten participants with Parkinson’s, along with the option for a carer or family member to join them in the pool. Due to the overwhelming demand and success, we have extended the pool session times and welcomed more than ten participants.

The impact has been clear—not only are the sessions busy, but the smile on participants’ faces speak volumes. Many are already looking forward to the next session. A particular highlight has been the social element of the programme. Reserved tables before and after sessions provide a space for participants to enjoy a hot drink and conversation. From the very first session, it has been inspiring to hear members share experiences, discuss symptoms, and exchange strategies they use to adapt and overcome challenges in their daily lives.

Even though we are still in the early stages of this project, the outcomes so far have been very positive. We’ve already received significant interest from multiple parties, as well as interest in the results we expect at the end of the initial project period.

During the planning phase, we allocated some funding to help sustain the project beyond the initial 20 weeks and considered introducing a small session fee. However, given the level of interest and the potential for continued growth—not only at this site but also the possibility of running a second session at another location—we will be exploring additional funding pathways to support the project’s ongoing development.

We have had to introduce a more structured booking system. Until now, bookings were managed directly through the project lead, which worked well. However, due to the increasing demand, we have regularly accepted more than the planned ten participants, and many people book every week. As a result, new individuals who are now expressing interest often have no opportunity to join.

To address this, we will be implementing a two-week booking window, which we hope will create fairer access and allow new participants the chance to get involved.

William Hickey – Active Health Manager

[email protected]