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# Balconies at Lichfield retirement village become outdoor gym as fitness trainer adapts classes during coronavirus lockdown
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/balconies-at-lichfield-retirement-village-become-outdoor-gym-as-fitness-trainer-takes-classes-outside-during-coronavirus-lockdown/
- Published: 2020-04-17T08:58:51.000Z
- Updated: 2020-04-17T09:13:57.000Z
- Description: Coronavirus restrictions have not stopped residents at a Lichfield retirement village from keeping active.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:18, News

Coronavirus restrictions have not stopped residents at a Lichfield retirement village from keeping active.

Personal trainer Ben Bate has been a permanent fixture at Bromford’s Beacon Park Village since it opened on Lower Sandford Street in 2005.

But the introduction of COVID-19 restrictions meant the 38-year-old couldn’t continue with his regular sessions at the on-site gym.

So the quick-thinking instructor has transformed balconies into a gym while he runs three outdoor fitness sessions at three locations outside to ensure all residents can take part.

![Ben Bate leading one of his fitness sessions before the coronavirus lockdown began](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/dsc2262-1lr.jpg)

Ben Bate leading one of his fitness sessions before the coronavirus lockdown began

> “This hasn’t just been about exercise for me.  
>  
> “It has equally been about bringing everyone together and easing people’s minds at what is quite a tough time for everyone and the response has been absolutely fantastic.”   
>  
> “We typically get between 15 and 20 people and we’ve been getting up to 30 in the past few weeks and as more and more residents hear about it, a greater number are coming out onto their balconies which is so great to see.  
>  
> “We’ve been working on loosening their joints, using a range of movements to improve their core strength, and really just releasing those good endorphins.”   
>  
> Ben Bate, personal trainer

Fitness sessions aren’t the only thing keeping residents entertained as the scheme has also held sing-alongs to popular classics such as YMCA by the Village People and Vera Lynn’s hit We’ll Meet Again.

Pat Jobson, Bromford’s village manager, said:

> “Ben is such a popular figure here at Beacon Park Village and it is no surprise to see him uniting customers in his usual dynamic way.  
>  
> “These are undoubtedly uncertain times but we are running a varied activity programme to keep everyone’s spirits up while sticking to the government’s guidelines around social distancing.”  
>  
> Pat Jobson, Bromford