The 13th – 19th June marks Men’s Health Week. Those in prison tend to be of poorer health than the general population and have complex health care needs and this is especially true of older men in prison. In fact, 85% of people in prison aged over 60 have some form of major illness and these illnesses can include both physical and mental health issues.
Recoop is very much aware of the need for those serving a custodial sentence to be able to engage in purposeful activity that promotes physical activity and has a positive effect on mental health. That is why we have created ‘On Track’, a series of virtual walking challenges that can be done at a pace that suits the participant. There are almost 1000 men in prison walking the 872 mile journey between Land’s End to John O’Groats and around 100 so far who are completing the Wales Coast Path, which at 870 miles long, is an equal challenge. We’ve had some inspiring feedback from one participant; he not only lost weight but also found it helped improve his mental health and gave him a distraction from his day to day life in prison:
Read more about this individual’s journey in our blog
The impact and successes of those on their journey has encouraged us to build still further our library of routes and we’re delighted to announce the introduction of the West Highland Way which stretches from Milngavnie to Fort William, almost 90 miles.
Each of the routes are split into stages which showcase stunning scenery and interesting information about the towns and cities along the way; giving realistic targets and providing motivation to continue their virtual journey. A simple stepometer is also provided so each step can be counted to track progress.
We don’t yet fully understand the impact Covid-19 has had on people in prison, but deconditioning is already apparent. ‘On Track’ can provide a mental excursion, whether walking on Association or marching on the spot in-cell, exercise is beneficial to the body and mind.
To find out more about ‘On Track’, please contact us.