Leisure professional becomes Welsh health lead
GLL's Ann Hillman is a Welsh leisure professional who has taken on a leading role in encouraging people in Cardiff to exercise for their physical and mental health.
Working in partnership with the NHS, Ann oversees dozens of bespoke activity sessions to help patients ease chronic pain and health issues.
Now, in addition to her role as Community, Sport and Health Manager for GLL, the
social enterprise that runs eight leisure and community facilities in Cardiff, Ann has been appointed Welsh health lead for Community Leisure UK.
After suffering a severe spinal injury in 2009 that resulted in her having to learn to walk again, Ann has first-hand experience of how important exercise is in improving physical capacity.
Since before Covid, she has managed a process that sees patients medically referred to GLL Cardiff and a huge programme of pathways appropriate to them, including the Active Leisure Scheme and other bespoke classes.
Classes are co-delivered by NHS rehabilitation specialists and success rates in reducing pain and managing a range of conditions are high.
“I’m very passionate about what we offer because I can see the difference physical activity makes to people of all ages on a daily basis,” said Ann.
“The NHS Escape Pain programme and Escapee Circuit classes are very popular and being together in a group has many social benefits as well.
“I understand what it’s like to live with pain and incapacity but getting up, getting out and making yourself move in the right way can help a lot.
“I’m delighted to be Community Leisure’s new Welsh Lead for Health SIG (Special
Interest Group). It’s a great honour and underlines the important part community leisure facilities provide in improving both physical and mental health. Just watch an eighty-year-old on a battle rope and you’ll know exactly what I mean.”
Operating under the Better brand, GLL is the not-for-profit company that runs Eastern Leisure Centre, where Ann is based, Fairwater, Llanishen, Maindy, Pentwyn and Western Leisure Centres, as well Star Hub and Penylan Library and Community Centre.
For more information, visit https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/cardiff