Forget couch to 5K, a Durham fitness instructor has her focus set on creating an army of armchair Olympians.
Fitness entrepreneur Michelle Garton set up Get Fit NE CIC in April 2024 to help tackle social isolation and improve community cohesion.
Hosting post-natal, children’s fitness and Chair Fit classes, the social enterprise is helping to improve physical and mental wellbeing, combat social isolation and bring communities together.
“I’ve always had a real passion for helping people and making a difference in the community, so after qualifying as a life coach last year, I decided the next step in my career would be to become a social entrepreneur,” she said.
The organisation began by delivering classes in community centres in Pelton and Ouston, however it wasn’t until it introduced Chair Fit classes – a form of physical activity that involves exercises performed while seated – that things really began to take off.
“We started off with just a handful of people attending our sessions, but as soon as we introduced Chair Fit, it just blew up,” she said.
“We’re now hosting sessions five times a week, with each class typically attracting around 40 people aged 50 and above. We even have one regular who is 98.”
One of the main benefits of Chair Fit is improved fitness and physical health, however Michelle is keen to stress that it can also help tackle social isolation and those suffering from illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
“It was a real pinch me moment, but one of the things that really drove home the impact of our work was when we welcomed a husband and wife to one of our Chair Fit classes and the woman suffered from dementia.
“The illness impacted her life so much that she often struggled to even remember the names of those closest to her, however when the activity finished and our cooldown song, ‘Always on my Mind’ by Elvis Presley began to play, she grabbed her husband’s hand, remembered his name and said to him ‘this is our song’. They had a very emotional sing along together. Her husband said ‘that song brought me my wife back’.
“The endorphins from exercising, fused with the nostalgia of their favourite song, jolted memories of old and we were all in shock. Not to mention her husband. It was the most remarkable and most rewarding thing I’ve experienced in over 20 years in fitness. If not my life.”
The North East BIC played a key role in helping Michelle establish Get Fit NE CIC. The Social Enterprise Durham Boost programme provided funding to launch the Chair Fit classes and business adviser, Anthony McDermott, provided advice and support to help get the social enterprise off the ground.
Social Enterprise Durham Boost is one of the pilot initiatives being delivered across England, funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to help stimulate social entrepreneurship in target areas.
Michelle said: “If it wasn’t for the support and grant funding we received from the BIC, there’s no way we’d be where we are today.
“Having ran my own business, I knew the basics of setting up, but I had no idea of how to run a social enterprise and the different options available to me, but they just made everything so easy.
“The advice and support we have received has been invaluable and I also think they have been key to us securing funding from Sport England and The National Lottery. I can’t thank them enough.”
Anthony said: “Michelle’s passion and dedication to making a difference in the community is truly inspiring. It’s been a pleasure to support her on this journey, helping to turn her vision into a thriving social enterprise.
“Get Fit NE CIC is not just about fitness—it’s about bringing people together across County Durham, improving well-being and tackling social isolation. After visiting a session recently, seeing the incredible impact of Chair Fit firsthand has been remarkable – such a buzz in the room and everyone had a huge smile on their face. I have no doubt that Michelle’s work will continue to transform lives across County Durham and beyond.”
Looking forward, Michelle has ambitious plans for Get Fit NE CIC. She plans to expand her offering into other areas of County Durham and develop a 12-month community centre project providing a range of specialised fitness programmes. She is also exploring the addition of children’s summer camps with cookery lessons to encourage healthy lifestyles from a young age.
“The journey so far has been incredible,” Michelle added. “In less than a year, we’ve helped hundreds of people, and this is just the beginning.
“Our community is growing week by week, and with more classes and service offerings in the pipeline, I can’t wait to see what the future brings.”
For more information on the North East BIC, visit: https://www.ne-bic.co.uk/