The MERKUR community programme has been credited with helping to improve the well-being of older people living in Northern Ireland. Working in partnership with the Agewell charity MERKUR UK funded an eight-week armchair Pilates programme that delivered a raft of physical and social benefits including improved balance and mobility, an uplift in confidence and a reduction in social isolation.
MERKUR UK has been praised for contributing to the emotional and physical well-being of older people living in Northern Ireland. Funding from the MERKUR Community programme covered the costs of an eight-week Armchair Pilates Course organised by Agewell, a local charity which supports senior citizens living in Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus.
Explaining how the charity operates and its overarching mission, Sarah McLaughlin, Executive Director of Health Programmes, for the Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership, said: “We aim to create conditions that can make it as easy as possible for older people to be proactive in their health in later life, help to manage health conditions and prevent frailty.”
She continued: “The donation from the MERKUR Community Fund meant that we were able to reach out to isolated older people in our area who would like to take part in some physical activity but just didn’t know how to start.
“We co-produce our projects with older people to understand what makes an age friendly, accessible and most of all, a fun community activity that they want to get involved in.”
A ‘before and after’ impact study conducted by Agewell demonstrated significant improvements for participants across key metrics including physical, functional and emotional outcomes. In terms of specifics, 90 percent of participants reported an improvement in their sense of well-being and improved confidence with near to 100 percent stating they wanted to continue to exercise and to meet socially.
Tony Boulton, MERKUR UK’s Director of Public and Political Relations, noted: “This is another example of a small charity making a huge impact in its community. The Chair Pilates programme that we supported delivered tangible benefits and improvements to physical wellbeing, and confidence as well as addressing social-isolation which is a key issue for many older people. Once again, this demonstrates how important it is for the business community to work with the charity sector in order to help improve lives.”
During 2025, MERKUR Community donated more than £200,000 to support 150 charities and community organisations across the UK, many of which depend heavily on private sector funding to deliver their vital services.
Beneficiaries over the past 12 months include Milton Keynes Food Bank, Nova Sports Wheelchair Basketball Club, Rays of Sunshine, Belfast-based Springboard Opportunities, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Little Lifts, Brain Tumour Research and Momentum, the charity that supports families whose children are living with life-challenging medical conditions.
Care in the community
Sarah McLaughlin said……. “We aim to create conditions that can make it as easy as possible for older people to be proactive in their health in later life, help to manage health conditions and prevent frailty. The donation from the MERKUR Community Fund meant that we were able to reach out to isolated older people in our area who would like to take part in some physical activity but just didn’t know how to start……
Originally published on Coinslot on July 27, 2026. Republished with permission.