Paralympian fronts Black Country movement campaign

Ex Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds is fronting a campaign to help encourage West Midlands residents to get active.

The Move Together campaign, launched by Active Black Country and local authorities, aims to break down barriers and help people embrace exercise as part of everyday life.

The latest data from Sport England revealed 34.8% of adults in the region were classified as inactive - a figure significantly higher than the national average.

The Paralympian from Aldridge, near Walsall, said: "Everyone deserves the chance to feel the joy and freedom that being active can bring".

The initiative will be rolled out in three stages, with the first focused on highlighting the places in the region where people can be active. It will also demonstrate the accessible activity opportunities that are on offer.

Simmonds encouraged people to find out what activities take place at their local community centres and said she had seen the benefits of exercising with other people.

"There's a walking netball club at Rushall Community Centre, they've all got matching T-shirts, they do their exercise and then all have a cup of tea as a reward.

"It's so good to bring all ages and all abilities together.

"Whether it's going for a walk in Walsall Arboretum or The Croft in Aldridge, it's just about getting out and getting moving", Simmonds said.

The former Paralympian added that being active was even more important for her mental and physical health now, than when she was a professional athlete.

However, she told BBC Radio WM it could be hard to feel motivated.

Simmonds said one of her top tips was to do some sort of movement or workout early in the morning.

"Once you've got an alarm set and you've got your stuff prepared, it's easier to jump out of bed, have a coffee and get yourself motivated.

"You could even arrange to go with friends so you know you can't let them down," she added.

The second and third stages of the initiative will focus on activities available along the region's waterways and highlight a number of outdoor spaces that people can explore.

Simmonds said she hoped the campaign would spread awareness of how important it is to be active.

"The best thing is that you don't even have to be an athlete to feel the benefits, or have ever done sports.

"Whether it's a walk with friends, dancing in your living room, or joining a local group, moving and being active can make a massive difference," she added.

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