Kingston upon Thames based charity Voices of Hope has announced the launch of their new Active Breathing Course (ABC) website. The six-week online course, which was launched in 2021, aims to help individuals recover from long-term respiratory conditions and manage fatigue, stress, and anxiety levels. The course is NHS approved and is led by expert professional tutors.
Since its inception three years ago, ABC has helped over 600 individuals through more than 60 courses. According to the charity, 89% of participants have found the course to be very helpful or helpful, and more than 60% have reported significant improvements in their overall breathing capacity.
While the course was originally created in response to the devastating symptoms of long-Covid, it has since expanded to aid those with a variety of ongoing respiratory illnesses and to benefit individuals struggling with anxiety disorders.
Speaking about the launch of the new website, Voices of Hope CEO Sarah Clay, BEM, said, “Respiratory disease affects one in five people and is the third biggest cause of death in England. Not only does it have a distressing impact on the lives of the people involved, but it also puts a huge economic burden on the NHS, with the cost of asthma and COPD treatment alone standing at an estimated £4.9 billion annually.”
Through the Active Breathing Course, participants are taught a range of techniques, including Diaphragmatic Breathing, controlled breathwork, and singing exercises to strengthen intercostal muscles, all in a creative, inspiring, and empowering way. The course has shown positive results for participants, and the charity partners with organizations such as charities, healthcare providers, and businesses to offer cost-effective ways for individuals to improve their breathing and quality of life.
Clay also highlighted the benefits of the Active Breathing Course for businesses, stating, “With bespoke courses available, we support businesses in improving staff well-being. Benefits can include higher energy and creativity levels, a reduction in stress and anxiety levels in the workplace, improved posture, and the positive release of endorphins.”
For more information about the Active Breathing Course, interested individuals can visit Voices of Hope’s website at www.voh.org.uk/abc.
-ENDS-
Contacts:
Sarah Clay, CEO, Voices of Hope
sarah.clay@voh.org.uk
Charity No. 1187454
Notes to Editors:
– Voices of Hope is a locally founded charity in Kingston Upon Thames with a focused reach into SW London. The organization is dedicated to bringing hope to individuals and the wider community and improving physical and mental health through community-based projects.
– Their mission is to restore people, give them hope to rebuild their lives, and equip them both practically and emotionally. The charity’s work is centered around creative and inspiring projects in the areas of Creative Arts, Food, and Women’s projects.
– Voices of Hope works with individuals struggling with complex physical and/or mental health issues, families experiencing food insecurity, women who have experienced abuse/domestic violence, and the elderly. They see those they reach as people who need support, encouragement, and empowerment, rather than problems that need solving.
– Due to the impact of their work locally and their collaborative partnership approach, Voices of Hope is gaining a growing national reach through several of their projects.
– For more information about the organization, individuals can visit their website at www.voh.org.uk.
– About the Active Breathing Course (ABC): The ABC is a six-week, NHS approved, online and in-person course designed to aid recovery and long-term well-being through controlled breathwork and creative exercises. The course is accessible across the UK and is focused on reaching those suffering from a long-term, ongoing respiratory condition, breathlessness, disordered breathing, anxiety, or fatigue.
– For more information about the ABC, individuals can visit the Voices of Hope’s website at www.voh.org.uk/active-breathing-course/.
– Mental Health UK reports that 8 million people in the UK are experiencing an anxiety disorder at any one time.
– According to NHS England statistics, respiratory disease is the third leading cause of death in England, affecting one in five people and costing the NHS an estimated £4.9 billion annually.
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