How to book onto any of the Classes

Who are the organisers? | The Booking process | Data Protection | Further Information | Feedback from attendees

Who are the organisers?

All the classes in this section are set up and organised from the Ipswich Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre. If you have any questions relating to any of the classes than please contact the centre by phone, email or visiting in person.

Tel: 01473 715748, e-mail: cancer.support@esneft.nhs.uk

The Booking Process

Please contact the Ipswich Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre by phone 01473 715748 or in person so that a referral can be completed. You will be asked to provide information about your fitness and medical history as part of the referral.
Please allow up to 2 weeks for your form to be processed by the centre
A copy of your form will be sent confidentially to the specific Exercise Instructor who will be holding the class.
Within the next 4 weeks you will receive a telephone call from the Instructor. If you do not receive a call then please ring the centre.
The Instructor will chat to you about the class and about your needs. You will have the opportunity to ask questions or raise any concerns. You will then be given a date to start.
At your first exercise session your instructor will greet you and help you to feel at ease.
It is your responsibility to inform the instructor of any concerns or of changes to your health.
The Instructor will do his or her best to accommodate any adaptions that you may need - just ask.

Note that the Children’s Fun Swimming group is primarily a social group and no instructor will be present. Please see the information for this group where you will find details explaining how to book places.

Data protection

By completing the form you are agreeing for us to share your details on the form with the Instructor taking the class. If you have any questions relating to this then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Further information

For more information about the Physical Activity Information Sessions, please contact your Physical Activity Advisor, Janet Lawrence, via the contact details below, or the John Le Vay Centre information centre on 01473 715748.

People’s experience of the Physical Activity Information Sessions

From swimming one length in her local pool to swimming a mile in open water Olga has made fantastic progress since taking part in the Physical Activity Information Session. After being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy Olga found her physical strength and stamina were at an all-time low.
“One day whilst trying to get a plate from the kitchen cupboard I crouched down to reach into the cupboard and found that I didn't have the strength in my legs to stand up again. I sat on the floor and cried. Then I thought I have to get up so I crawled into my living room and pulled myself up onto the sofa. As I sat there I thought 'this has to change' and that I must work at changing it.”

Olga attended the information session, but wasn’t quite sure what to think,
“I thought I had walked into the wrong room. I didn’t feel that I belonged there as some of the others seemed older than me, were suffering with other conditions such as arthritis, recovering from heart problems or wanted to lose weight but actually the content covered in the consultation was really helpful. I thought, I can listen and do nothing about it or I can use this opportunity to start my journey of recovery and become fit again.”

After leaving the consultation with the drive to become more active, Olga thought she’d give swimming a try. When she first started, swimming one length of the pool was a challenge; but one day whilst at the sports centre with a friend she noticed a poster for the 1 mile swim and thought “I could do that”. She gave into temptation and signed up! Olga also struggles with peripheral neuropathy in her hands and feet and used to hate the cold water, but when swimming in the cold water she found the pool changed her pain and made it bearable.
Olga has made great progress during her time on the service thus far and has particularly found the follow up contact was very helpful;
“it’s nice to know that somebody out there cares… It has helped me to look at my inner strength and inspired me to succeed. I feel that now I am not only emotionally stronger but physically stronger too”.

Olga successfully completed the 1 mile open swim in 1 hour 31 seconds and placed 10th for her age and gender which is fantastic. She’s even thinking about doing it again next year!

“Whatever is being offered to you – just try it and if it’s good for you, don’t give up! Our bodies will get stronger enabling us to cope with the difficulties that life or ill health throws at us. Physical activity can also be a great way to socialise too!”.

“Last year was as dark as it could get… just to know that Janet and the team were there if I needed them was great. Every day seems like a new adventure and I’m enjoying taking part in exercise!”.