14/05/2021 - Sendo-Ryu Association

Community Investment Fund case study - Sendo-Ryu Association

Perhaps more than ever, at this time many people are appreciating the importance of exercise for wellbeing. Runners and joggers seem to have appeared everywhere, but it's not possible for everyone to leave their homes or to engage in such strenuous activity.

For these people, this hasn't just been a temporary challenge during lockdown either. Many people realise they need to be more physically active for health reasons on a regular basis, yet need a supportive steer in the right direction.

One such individual is Advika Laghari. Suffering from stress, weight issues and thyroid problems, her GP referred her to Tai Chi classes that are run by the Sendo-Ryu Association in Luton.

"Over the last few years, doing these classes have helped me with my general fitness and overall flexibility. Meeting other members of the class has also helped me with my stress levels and improved my peace of mind," said Advika.

Sendo Ryu is just one of the community organisations that receives vital funding from the council’s airport company London Luton Airport Ltd (LLAL), and uses it to help a wide range of individuals with a variety of health needs.

Research has proven Tai Chi to be beneficial to people with types 1 and 2 diabetes, those requiring stroke rehabilitation, individuals with heart disease and hypertension as well as older people. It improves a person’s ability to control their movements, increases wellbeing and also enhances a desire to maintain exercise as a life-pattern, which is especially important for those recovering from a significant medical condition.

Sendo Ryu has been operating in the town for over 20 years, during which time hundreds of residents have benefitted and been given the opportunity to be part of the association’s training programmes.

In addition to Tai Chi, it runs courses in karate, self-defence, personal safety, street smart awareness, exercise and general fitness and health. All these projects are supported with information and advice on living a healthy lifestyle, nutrition and diet.

Chief instructor Tyrone Sutherland, who runs Sendo Ryu along with senior instructors Simon Bullock and Lester Membe, said: "The funding we get from LLAL is invaluable to us. It enables us to provide services to people who otherwise would not be able to afford it.

"The association seeks to work with the most disadvantaged people, particularly the elderly and vulnerable. We also have many clients from minority groups, women, young people and those who have been involved in antisocial behaviour or offending.

"Our beneficiaries would almost always say that the organisation takes a personal interest each of them, that they received a personalised health plan and that they are given one-to-one support as well as information and advice to make changes to their health and wellbeing.

"In the last year Sendo Ryu has delivered exercise classes to over 120 people. Of these, 30 per cent have some form of disability and almost 50 per cent are under a GP for various health conditions and diseases.

"The support the association gives these people is invaluable and many would not reach the levels of health or recovery they need to continue independent living.

"By providing assistance before more serious health and social problems can develop, or by being there to help people overcome a significant health crisis, Sendo Ryu not only provides an extremely important service, but, like many organisations that receive charity funding from LLAL, its activities relieve health and social care services from a further significant strain on local resources/

Tyrone understands only too well that without the support of LLAL funding it would be much harder to offer this important community service: "LLAL’s support allows us to help more people by subsidising classes, paying for hall fees and dealing with the administration that accompanies all such groups like ours.

"In addition the organisation is able to pay those leading the courses and crucially we are able to invest more in publicity to reach people who would be wary of attending a fitness club, sports group or gym."