Report: Trish Ireland

At the last meeting of the West Lancashire and Southport Breathe Easy group, we started with half an hour's sing song, led by the superb Power of Music Group. This activity is proving very popular with our members and is strongly recommended for improving lung conditions and lifting the spirits!

The speaker after our refreshment break was Petra McCauley of the British Lung Foundation, who told us about the Charity's exciting new initiative, Active Steps, a free service which provides support over 12 months to help someone become and stay active and funded by Sport England and the National Lottery.

Being active has lots of benefits for people living with a lung conditionsor a long-term condition, such as type 2 diabetes and arthritis. However, most people with a lung condition do far less activity compared to the general population. People's activity levels decline after they’re diagnosed with lung disease, and they continue to fall. However, Individual support can overcome them and Active Steps is a 1:1 service to support any inactive people with a lung condition to become and stay active over 12 months.

It includes regular calls to discuss how you can become more active and how BLF can help you together; an information pack including an activity diary, so you can track your activities and your progress; regular newsletters with useful tips and inspirational stories of other people with lung conditions who have benefitted from being active; information about ways to become active in your local area, and access to other members of our helpline team to support your wider needs, such as access to financial benefits.

BLF offers this service to anybody with a lung condition who would like support to become more active.Please note that the support offered is not intended to replace advice from a GP, consultant, nurse or other health care professional.If you’ve been diagnosed with a lung condition and are not currently active enough you can refer yourself directly to the service. The Active Steps team will give you a call to explain the service in more detail and check that it’s appropriate for you.

You can sign up online:activesteps@blf.org.uk or call BLF helplineon 03000 030 555 to speak to the Active Steps team.

We welcome very interesting speakers on a variety of subjects during the year and new members and guests are always welcome to join us, together with any relative, carer or friend, as wished. We meet on the third Monday of every month between 11 am and 12.30 pm at the Guide HQ, Green Lane, Ormskirk, L39 1ND, which is next to Ormskirk Rugby Club. Ample free parking is available nearby! For further information, please contact Trish on 07528702203.