Parkinson's UK reopens physical activity grants for 2023
Our Physical Activity grants programme is open again to help more people with Parkinson's to enjoy being active and live well with the condition.
We’ve launched our third year of physical activity grants to fund activity providers that help people living with Parkinson’s get active.
The programme is open all year to activity providers, national governing bodies, Parkinson’s groups and branches, and sports and healthcare professionals.
Since our physical activity grants programme started in 2021, funding has supported more than 84 projects including table tennis, non-contact boxing, high-intensity workout classes, walking football, online wellbeing and fitness sessions, and many more.
There are lots of benefits to being active for people living with Parkinson’s. It can help with balance, strength and coordination, as well as improve mental wellbeing and sleep patterns.
Physical activity groups and classes also provide opportunities to meet new people and socialise at a time when people living with Parkinson’s have reported experiencing increased social isolation.
The physical activity grants programme is generously supported by Sport Parkinson’s CIC, Boost Charitable Trust and the Parkinson’s UK Innovation Fund, allowing more people from the community to enjoy being active.
Bec Burrow, Physical Activity Grants Manager for Parkinson’s UK, said:
"We are delighted to expand our 2023 grants programme in response to demand from the Parkinson’s community, activity providers and Parkinson’s professionals.
"The programme will reopen on 2 May, enabling more opportunities for people living with Parkinson’s to access physical activities and enjoy being active, which we know is so important to help manage symptoms, maintain health and lift your mood.
"The physical activity grants programme is already supporting projects across the UK to help the Parkinson’s community to become and stay active. We've been delighted to work with so many new providers and Parkinson's professionals since the grants programme started in 2021 and we hope to work with many more in the future."
The Taunton and Exeter Neuro Walking Football programme has been one of many success stories, having received grant funding in 2022. The programme is managed by Caroline Pike who is helping more people with Parkinson’s to enjoy an active lifestyle in the local area.
Caroline Pike from the Taunton and Exeter Neuro Walking Football programme said:
"The Taunton Parkinson’s Walking Football has become a regular fitness and social ‘must do’ weekly event for both players and family members.
"The participants really look forward to the sessions and many have connected with other people with Parkinson’s for the first time which has helped them feel less alone and more involved in the local Parkinson’s community."
Get in touch with us
If you need any support with your grant application, email the Physical Activity team: [email protected].