Halo expands its Respite Programme delivering exercise, stress management and nutrition advice for carers

Social enterprise Halo Leisure is extending the reach of its Carers Respite Programme, which supports unpaid carers through physical activity and wellbeing support, alongside replacement care for the people they look after.

Launched in Bridgend in 2022 and now also delivered in Merthyr Tydfil, Halo is working with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council to deliver the programme in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The programme has yielded impressive results. This year, 100 per cent of participants have reported an improvement in their ability to manage their mental health; 95 per cent said they felt more connected to other carers and 89 per cent were exercising four or more times a week.

The operator has also calculated the programme’s social return on investment, reporting that an annual investment of £20,000 generates just over £301,000 in social value – equivalent to £15.05 for every £1 invested.

The six-week programme consists of weekly two-hour sessions, including tailored physical activity, stress management, nutrition advice and information about carers’ rights and the support available to them.

Participants also have access to Halo Leisure’s health and wellbeing facilities, while replacement care can be arranged for the person they care for, removing one of the main barriers preventing carers from participating.

“Carers can often be overlooked but they play an important role in our communities and we’re very proud of the work our team is doing in partnership in Merthyr Tydfil,” says Halo Leisure CEO, Scott Rolfe.

“The programme was developed following a consultation exercise supported by Bridgend County Borough Council, which explored the health and wellbeing needs of carers and the barriers preventing them from being physically active.”

The research found 68 per cent wanted help managing stress and anxiety and 55 per cent wanted support to manage their weight or eat more healthily. Some 60 per cent wanted to participate in activities with other carers, but identified cost, confidence and a lack of replacement care as barriers. Thirty four per cent said they were exercising considerably less as a result of their caring responsibilities and 80 per cent reported feeling lonely or socially isolated.

Halo uses co-production to shape its development. During the final session of each six-week programme, participants are asked for feedback on areas including timings, activities and potential improvements.

Outcomes are measured through surveys conducted before and after the programme. Participants are asked to rate their confidence in managing their own wellbeing on a scale of one to five. The average score increased from 2.2 at the beginning of the programme to 4.3 after six weeks.

Ryan Statton, head of active communities, says: “Unpaid carers give so much to others, yet often experience poor health, loneliness, and barriers to their own wellbeing. At Halo, we’ve listened to carers and created opportunities for exercise, stress relief, and peer connection, backed by essential replacement care. This programme increases carers’ resilience and health, giving them a vital break and the community support needed to sustain their caring relationships.”

Initial funding came from the Welsh Government through Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO). Subsequent programmes in Bridgend, have been funded by Bridgend County Borough Council and through Regional Integration Funding from the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board. In Merthyr, the programme has been funded by the Regional Integration Funding from the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board, and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council via Merthyr Tydfil Unpaid Carers Partnership.

The programme is a finalist in the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion category at the 2026 UK Active Awards and has been recognised as good practice through a Quest for Active Communities ‘Excellent’ rating.