I’m Kat, and I am a Find Your Active Community Connector for Basildon.

I was thrilled to get this role after being an ambassador for the Find Your Active campaign and winning Active Essex’s Ambassador of the Year award in 2021.  During the last 12 months, I have been trying lots of new activities in the area and seen all of the fantastic community groups and opportunities available, which I can’t wait to share with you all!

I am absolutely passionate about the physical and mental health benefits of getting active and honestly believe there is something out there for everyone, whatever your barriers and challenges may be. It doesn’t have to be gym based activity or a sport either – walking the dog, gardening, walking an extra stop to catch the bus- it all counts!

I am looking forward to sharing with you some ideas of how you can bring fun activity into your life, and hopefully I can encourage you to try something new too! You never know the new friends you might make through a shared interest or community group.

Personally I was never sporty at school, quite the opposite really having had two heart operations as a child and never really excelling in team sports or athletics. Things changed really after having two children and becoming quite overweight and experiencing three years of chronic pain with a stomach condition and postnatal depression. I just started walking at first as it was all I could manage, then dipped in and out of various fitness groups I enjoyed to help get my confidence back. During the whole process I lost 5 stone, came off 9 medications and my kids got their Mum back. I wanted to pass my new found enthusiasm on so retrained as a Personal Trainer and Cancer Rehab Specialist, which I absolutely love.

My favourite activity now is lifting weights, as coming into my 40’s, resistance training is so good for you. I also enjoy boxing for fitness and archery. Walking is still a massive part of my life and I am currently training for my first ultra marathon, which is something I never thought I would be saying! My message is give something new a try and if you don’t like it, try something else! You never know where a new interest might take you…

Take a look at some of the free and low cost activities in Basildon here!