Published on: 24,Jan 2025

Richmond Group hosts parliamentary drop-in on movement and long-term conditions

Emily Martin-Ball, Programme and Policy Support Officer, The Richmond Group

The Richmond Group was pleased to host a parliamentary event in January as part of our physical activity programme.  

Kindly sponsored by Shadow Minister for Sport Louie French MP, the event attracted over 20 guests. The focus was on the role of movement in supporting people with long-term conditions, supported by charity partners Age UK, Mind, Parkinson’s UK, and Versus Arthritis along with Sport England. Parliamentarians also heard directly from people with lived experience, including We Are Undefeatable storytellers Christine and Jat, and Paralympian Callie-Ann Warrington, while participating in a gentle workout led by trainer Sandra Shaw.

Sandra Shaw, personal trainer, leading guests in some gentle movements with every-day objects.

 

Up to 20 million adults in England live with long-term conditions and they are one of the least active groups, yet movement is an effective and inexpensive tool in preventing and managing more than 20 different conditions. In July 2024 the Richmond Group published Millions More Moving, a policy report setting out three shifts to tackle inactivity and support people with LTCs which every guest left with. We discussed the report with MPs and Peers and called on them to take action in parliament by advocating for the least active and for a focus on all forms of movement in daily life. 

Christine Stanley, who leads Nordic Walking groups and lives with Parkinson’s speaks with MPs about her lived experiences of being active with a long-term health condition.

Silver medallist Paralympian and radiographer, Callie-Ann Warrington and Adam Jogee MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Liam Conlon MP for Beckenham and Penge speaks with Caroline Rassell, CEO of Parkinson’s UK and others with lived experience about being active with long-term conditions.

 

Guests included members of the shadow cabinet, chairs of APPGs and select committee members. Storytellers and members of the team spoke with them about issues and opportunities in movement and health, varying from personal experiences of working in healthcare or living with long-term conditions, to how they can shape current opportunities in Government like the 10-Year Health Plan. 

Putting lived experience at the heart of policymaking is essential, and core to the Richmond Group of Charities’ work. We will continue to put lived experience at the forefront of our policy influencing as we follow up on the success of this event. 

Supporting millions more moving; members of the Richmond Group, Christine Stanley, Sandra Shaw, Callie-Ann Warrington, along with Kim Leadbeater MP and Rachel Taylor MP.

 

To read more on the Richmond Group’s physical activity programme, click here.