A new Talking Therapies gym has officially opened for patients at St Charles Health and Wellbeing Centre, offering a dedicated space for physical activity to support health and wellbeing. On 2 April, CNWL staff came together to celebrate the collaboration and dedication that made it all possible.

Chloe Schneider, Clinical Lead for Community Living Well and Psychological Therapies opened the event with a welcoming speech to thank everyone involved for their support in bringing this project to life.

Special mentions went to Lucy Wilson-Shaw (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) Emma Barton (Head Occupational Therapist for Kensington and Chelsea), Ricardo Santos (Physical Activity Coordinator), Matt Waugh (Registered Mental Health Nurse and CNWL Physical Activity Network Lead), and CNWL NHS Health Charity who funded the gym equipment.

A journey of innovation and overcoming barriers

Lucy Wilson-Shaw reflected on the journey that led to the gym’s creation, highlighting the benefits of exercise for both mental and physical health - promoting longevity and helping people develop positive habits. Despite challenges along the way, Lucy found support from whose innovative thinking helped turn her vision into reality. She said:

“It’s been a real journey to get here, but now we have a space with good equipment where people can come and improve their wellbeing - not just patients in Kensington and Chelsea, but others too. This is more than just a gym; it’s about providing a sustainable way for people to maintain their mental and physical health together.”

Proven impact and long-term benefits

Matt Waugh, provided evidence to support the impact of exercise on mental health and highlighted two patient case studies on Nile Ward to illustrate the benefits of engaging in a structured physical activity program. He said:

“We need to ensure this space continues to operate. It’s not about creating dependency, but bridging the gap to other community spaces in Kensington and Chelsea. One of the great things about this space is the support we’ve received from CNWL NHS Health Charity, and Sport England, who both provided funding, recognising the promise of this initiative.”

Funding and a collaborative approach to wellbeing

Neil Harman, Charity Development Director for CNWL NHS Health Charity also said a few words and reinforced the importance of funding initiatives like this.

“Our charity exists to provide extras and enhancements for patients that make a real difference. There’s overwhelming evidence that exercise plays a huge role in mental and physical health recovery, and we’re proud to support that.”

Lee Byers added that talking therapies works best when paired with preventative measures like physical activity. “It’s about giving people the confidence to visit a gym outside of a hospital setting. This space allows them to build that confidence and eventually sign up for a gym independently.”

Photos from the day