Trust’s residents enjoy view from ‘box seats’ at Ashton Gate

The residents’ trip was arranged as part of the Bristol Bears Community Foundation’s Celebration of Sport Day, an annual event celebrating the Bear’s work across the local community.

Residents from Sandford Station, Monica Wills House, Cote Lane and Westbury Fields enjoyed a cream tea, watched players from the Bears’ educational programmes playing touch rugby on the pitch below, before taking part in an impromptu keep fit session.

The Bristol Bears Community Foundation’s Disability and Inclusion Manager, Dec Armstrong said: “We get to go into everyone else’s homes to share a bit of fun across the week, so it was nice to return the favour and welcome the St Monica Trust residents to our home at Ashton Gate.

“The day was as much about getting together socially as it was about engaging in physical activity, plus we had the best view in the stadium of the pitch from the directors’ box to watch the other programmes enjoying themselves in the sunshine.

“I’d like to give a very big ‘thank you’ from the Inclusion Team and everyone at Bristol Bears Community Foundation to all the residents who came along and the activities leads and drivers who enabled them to be here."

The Bristol Bears Community Foundation deliver weekly graduated fitness sessions at four of the Trust’s sites.

The sessions involve chair-based and standing exercises, incorporating music, dance and relaxation techniques, with as much emphasis on socialising as keeping fit and improving flexibility.

Monica Wills House’s Village Engagement Coordinator, Laura Ashton said: “The Celebration of Sports day was a huge success and proved very popular with all our residents from across the Trust who attended the event.

"Our residents have formed such a strong bond with the Bristol Bears because of the compassion and skill displayed by the instructors and it was a joy to see that in practice at Ashton Gate.

“In order to help support physical well-being among our residents, they need to feel emotionally comfortable. That’s something the Bristol Bears team do marvellously well in their sessions and also, as I found out myself on the day, it’s lots of fun.”