Frome-based theatre company Rare Species have won a grant to run their comedy fitness programme "Mojo Moves" for people with long term health conditions, adults with learning disabilities and women dealing with symptoms of menopause. Helping them to be as physically active as possible.

The Together Fund is designed to support organisations to deliver group exercise to priority groups disproportionately affected by the pandemic to help reduce the inequalities in physical activity. The grant, part of a total £20 million fund, comes from the National Lottery via Sport England and EMDUK (the governing body for group exercise).

Exercise options can be limited and rather boring but physiotherapist Dr Latchem-Hastings immediately saw the potential of Mojo Moves as an antidote; "as a physiotherapist, I was very impressed with how clever the routines are. Underneath all the fun there was so much technical expertise going on".

Mojo Moves is a unique fitness program in that it combines comedy theatre with a proper aerobic workout. 

The classes, hosted by larger-than-life characters Cheryl Sprinkler and Tony Dimonté (aka Ginny Adams and Nelly Fowler), have been running for just over four years in Frome, Somerset where the community have really taken Cheryl & Tony into their hearts.

Their tagline is "Reclaim your mojo back from the universe" and is as much about instilling positive mental health as physical fitness and has been life changing for many regular participants.

Ginny, who is qualified in exercise to music and health referrals, said, "When I came up with the idea, I never envisaged that so many people would love it so much. 

As well as running regular classes we have been invited to schools, festivals, parties and charity events to get people active through aerobic dancing. We kept going through the pandemic by going online and are now in our fifth year.

Adults and children alike join in with gusto and don't even realise they are exercising."