Active Together expands into West Yorkshire

The pioneering exercise, nutrition and wellbeing programme which has helped more than 1000 people in Yorkshire manage and recover from their cancer treatment has expanded to Wakefield and North Kirklees.

Funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, the research-backed cancer support programme, known as Active Together, has been designed by experts at Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) and is already well-established in South Yorkshire and Harrogate, supporting people diagnosed with cancer since early 2022.

Active Together offers free, personalised fitness, nutrition, and wellbeing support to help people with cancer prepare for, respond to, and recover after treatment.

It is now being expanded into West Yorkshire thanks to nearly £1.9million funding from Yorkshire Cancer Research. The funding will mean 2,400 people diagnosed with cancer in Wakefield, and North Kirklees can receive physical activity, nutrition and psychological wellbeing support to help them prepare for and recover from their cancer treatment.

The charity’s long-term vision is for everyone with a cancer diagnosis in Yorkshire to be able to benefit from this life-giving programme.

Jenny Newson, a former PE teacher from Castleford is one of the people looking forward to the expansion to her area.

Jenny was diagnosed with cancer in October 2022. A keen netball player, Jenny was left in disbelief by her diagnosis. She said: “When I was diagnosed, my world literally fell apart. Everything ground to a halt at that point. I was devastated because I was generally feeling quite fit and healthy and not really experiencing many symptoms.”

Jenny sought out exercise referral classes herself which helped her meet other people and gradually start exercising again.

She said: “Not only is exercise really good for your body but it's really good for your mind."

Evidence suggests that exercise after a cancer diagnosis can reduce the risk of dying from cancer by as much as 44% compared to those who are less active. It can also reduce the risk of cancer coming back by as much as 66%. A report into the significant impact of Active Together on people in Sheffield is due to be published in November.

Dr Stuart Griffiths, Director of Research and Services at Yorkshire Cancer Research said: “Active Together is not only vital for people with cancer, but also hugely beneficial to our region’s hospitals and healthcare systems. Yorkshire Cancer Research hopes to see everyone with cancer in Yorkshire – no matter who they are or where they live – be offered the opportunity to access this ground-breaking programme alongside their hospital treatment. The roll-out of Active Together into West Yorkshire marks another crucial step to achieve this goal.”

Active Together will be delivered by Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, Kirklees Active Leisure and Aspire Health and mean that people can attend Active Together in local leisure centres.

Keely Clawson, Lead Cancer Nurse at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, said: “We’re thrilled to officially be launching the Active Together Programme, in partnership with Yorkshire Cancer Research, alongside Wakefield Council Aspire Heath and Kirklees Active Leisure."