Keeping active supports heart health, bone strength, confidence and mood. It can also ease pain and help you stay independent for longer. Below you will find practical guidance you can adapt to your own ability, plus details of the programmes we run to make getting active easier.
Support for you
Staying fit does not mean running a marathon. NHS guidance recommends either 150 minutes of moderate activity a week (for example brisk wheeling or walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, plus strength work on two days. The time can be broken into 10-minute bursts.
Before starting anything new, speak to your GP or physiotherapist, especially if you have a heart condition, joint problems or you use medication that affects balance.
Below are some of the services Disability Together provides to help you stay fit and healthy, along with tips for staying active.
Who’s it for?
Anyone with a mobility impairment who wants to explore outdoor spaces across the South West.
How’s it delivered?
Borrow an all-terrain mobility scooter at more than 50 partner sites; book on the day or in advance. Staff give a short safety induction.
How much does it cost?
£3 annual membership plus a hire fee of about £2.50 per hour (prices vary by site).
Who’s it for?
Disabled and Deaf adults (16 +) in Devon who want practical skills and confidence to plan journeys and use buses and trains on their own.
How’s it delivered?
A free four‑session course: a journey‑planning workshop, a supported bus trip, a supported train trip and a wrap‑up session. Courses run monthly at accessible venues around the county, with trainers on hand for one‑to‑one help.
How much does it cost?
The training is fully funded by the Motability Foundation, so sessions are free; participants just pay their own fares on the practice journeys if they don’t have a concessionary pass.
Who’s it for?
People on an NHS elective-care waiting list who need advice while they wait for surgery or treatment about staying fit and healthy.
How’s it delivered?
Bespoke phone or email signposting to pain management, exercise, benefits and mental-health services, plus wellbeing check-ins every four weeks.
How much does it cost?
Free; funded by the NHS.
Who’s it for?
Deaf adults who use British Sign Language and would like peer support, outdoor activities and information delivered in their own language.
How’s it delivered?
Monthly BSL-led wellbeing walks at accessible outdoor spots, monthly peer-support groups with mindfulness and self-care tools, plus one-to-one information and advice by email, SMS, FaceTime or SignVideo.
How much does it cost?
Free to attend; funded by community grants and donations.
How we can help
If you have a heart condition, severe joint pain, uncontrolled epilepsy or are recovering from surgery you should speak to your GP or physio first. Otherwise, begin gently and increase activity in small steps.
Seated resistance-band workouts, wheelchair dance, hand-cycling, boccia and wheelchair rugby are popular options. Our Countryside Mobility scheme also lets you hire all-terrain scooters for outdoor routes.
Yes, but keep sessions short and paced. Try “little and often” movement, such as two minutes of gentle stretching each hour, and build up by no more than ten per cent a week. Listen to your body and rest when symptoms flare.
Set realistic, measurable goals – such as “wheel round the block three times a week”- and track progress with a diary or free app. Exercising with a friend or joining one of our online classes also helps you stay on track.
Charities such as Motability, Access Sport and Sport England’s Together Fund offer grants or low-cost loans for items like racing wheelchairs and adaptive bikes. Contact our team for up-to-date funding advice.
Our Time to Talk peer-support line can help you build confidence. We can also arrange for a volunteer buddy to attend the first session with you or advise on quieter class times.
Need someone to listen right now? Our peer-support line offers friendly, trained listeners by phone or video. They can help give you the confidence to get out and about and stay active.
Plain-English guides to managing stress, finding crisis help and understanding your rights – and how staying active contributes to good mental health.