From armchair exercise and acupuncture sessions, lessons in first aid and how to use the internet safely, a ground breaking project led by the University of Exeter is transforming the lives of people in Camborne, Pool, and Redruth.

Smartline, a three-year research project funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the South West Academic Health Science Network, is looking at how technology can be used to help people live healthier and happier lives.

It is being led by the University of Exeter with Coastline Housing Ltd, Volunteer Cornwall, and Cornwall Council.

Last year the team fitted environmental sensors in the homes of 300 Coastline Housing customers in the Camborne, Pool, Illogan and Redruth area of Cornwall.

The sensors are collecting information on indoor air quality, humidity, temperature, how much water is used and how much energy it takes to heat them.

The project also provides a range of activities to create greater community cohesion and tackle social isolation.

Some of the people taking part in these activities joined with the organisations delivering them at the Wesley Chapel in Camborne for a special event to celebrate the success of the programme.

“Last year we held a series of “guided conversations” with people living in the Camborne, Pool and Redruth areas to help us understand their wellbeing needs, aspirations and desires for their communities,” said Karen Spooner, from Volunteer Cornwall, and the Smartline community development manager.

“Residents told us they wanted more activities which brought people together and helped them feel they belonged in their local communities. Others told us they wanted to improve their physical health.

“A number of projects suggested by the local communities are already well underway with some fantastic results. This event has enabled us to share these successes with local residents and hopefully encourage more people to take part. We are also looking to develop more activities over the coming months and would love to hear from anyone who has an idea for a new community project.”

Among the successful projects helping to bring local communities together are monthly coffee mornings held in Camborne.

Launched last January, the coffee mornings are now attended by a mixture of local residents, creating neighbourly relationships between Smartline participants and those not involved in the project.

Discussions at the coffee mornings have also resulted in workshops in first aid and IT skills being provided for members of the group.

So far 17 people have received emergency first aid training and several groups have received support in using IT equipment from Switch, a local community interest company.

Among those taking part in activities at the Public Rooms are Keith and Shirley Roberts who moved to Camborne 12 months ago to be closer to members of their family.

Determined to become part of their local community, the couple began by attending the coffee mornings and then moved on to taking some of the classes.

“We wanted to find out what was happening in the local area and to make friends” said Shirley. “Coming to the coffee mornings has been a fantastic way of doing this and we are so grateful to Smartline for organising them."

One of the classes the couple have enjoyed is the IT class. While Shirley already knew some of the basics, Keith was, by his own admission, a complete beginner who could just manage to switch on the computer. Both now feel more confident in their IT skills and are looking forward to building on them in the future.

Older people are also being offered the chance to improve their health and wellbeing through community armchair exercise classes.

A pilot 14-week programme was initially introduced for residents at Trelawney Court last July. Delivered by SPARC, a local community interest company, committed to making sport and physical activity accessible to all, the programme was so successful residents decided to self fund the programme at the end of the pilot.

A second larger armchair exercise class pilot is now taking place at the Wesley Chapel in Camborne, with SPARC leading classes between 9.45 and 10.45am on alternate Friday mornings.

The 10-week pilot programme began in October, with around 20 people aged between 50 and 90+ now taking part in a range of activities, including indoor tennis and golf, seated volleyball and circuit training, and boccia.

Among those taking part in the classes is 81 year old Joan Hampton. Joan had recently moved into a retirement complex and was worried about “ending up just sitting in a chair and not moving” when she heard about the classes through her church and decided to give them a try.

Although the fact that she had a hip replacement three months ago means she has to be careful about what she does, she is full of enthusiasm for the classes and can’t wait to take part in the more energetic activities.

“I can feel myself becoming fitter and stronger “ she said. “Everyone in the class is very friendly and we all have a laugh and lots of fun”.

Following the classes, the group are invited to chat with each other over coffee and cake provided by the Red Cross. The involvement of the Red Cross in this project is part of a wider partnership between Smartline and the Red Cross Connecting Communities project team.

“The aim of our new Connecting Communities project is to support people over the age of 18 in Camborne, Redruth and Pool who are lonely or socially isolated,” explained Charlot Treloar. “We offer them 12 weeks of support to help break the cycle of social isolation.

“This includes taking people to community groups that are new to them to encourage them to develop new friendships. One of the groups we have referred people to is the armchair exercise group and we are delighted with the results so far."

The final community project currently underway is based in Coronation Avenue in Camborne, where local residents expressed an interest in gardening during the guided conversations.

They suggested developing an underused outdoor space known as the “big green” as a way of bringing people together and improving the local area.

With support from Smartline, a five member community committee made up of willing volunteers was set up to lead the project, with plans being developed to create a wild flower area and raised beds and planters.

“This has been a brilliant way of getting the local community to work together,” said Babs Eveson, chair of the Community Green Space Committee.

“When the idea for the green space was first suggested, we went round knocking on doors to see what people thought about the idea. The overwhelming majority were all for it and so we agreed to form a committee to try and make it happen.

Since then, the group have drawn up initial plans for the space and worked with illustrator Mel Chadwick to produce an image for how it could look.

Work is now taking place to put together bids for funding to Coastline Housing and Camborne Town Council. The team are also hoping to work with students from Camborne Science and International Academy.

“The Smartline team are passionate about making a difference in the community and this is evident by the number of activities that have been organised over the last year.

"Going forwards we want to continue this work with more events and activities that will encourage residents to grow in confidence and develop new connections within the community,” says Cathy Read, communications and outreach manager for Smartline.