EMC’s Yoga 2020 went very well and successful.
On the 22nd April 2020 the EMC were pleased and honoured to receive confirmation from Helen Parker Head of the Wimbledon Foundation that our funding application is successful for the above project. We had put forward Swimming for a healthier lifestyle but because the of the Covid-19 pandemic they offered us flexibility on the time scale.
We decided to start the Swimming project in approx Sept/Oct when we surmised that maybe the restrictions would be lifted. At that point in time, we did not realise what the full implications of the Covid-19 would be and the effect it would have on all businesses and charity organisations in the UK.
Our previous Swimming Project in 2019 had been remarkably successful and well attended however although the venue we had chosen The Cannons at Mitcham re-opened in August they too of course had to reopen with strict health & safety rules in place which included only a few socially distanced people in the water at any one time.
As the situation continued the EMC had to rethink how to continue our work and projects and how to support the BAME communities and care for their health & wellbeing. We applied for extra funding from the Corona virus emergency fund administered by MVSC and secured funding to set up by means of technology i.e. “zoom” etc., an online method to reach out and support our communities.
EMC Project Director Sabitri Ray contacted Kate Wilson at the Wimbledon Foundation (Get Set Get Active Fund) on the 28th August to explain the situation, they are always flexible, supportive & helpful.
Mrs Ray suggested that now we have the online method of communication we can reach more people and hold Yoga classes instead. Many of our users are very isolated and have suffered mentally as well as physically over the last six months of lockdown. We felt that this would be a more constructive way of using the funder’s money and we can help more people than the swimming would at this time. We are most grateful for the support and understanding we were given. To encourage regular exercise promoting cardio vascular health and better mobility.
Funded by : The Wimbledon Foundation “Get Set Get Active” Fund
