Abstract

BreatheEasy Eastbourne is an independent charity affiliated with Asthma+Lung UK. We support patients with chronic respiratory diseases throughout Sussex. We are a support group run by volunteers who either live with a lung disease or care for a person with a chronic respiratory illness.
We run a pulmonary rehabilitation maintenance programme (PRMP) across eight towns in the Sussex. There are 12 sessions per week. Patients who have completed an NHS pulmonary rehabilitation programme are referred to the BreatheEasy PRMP by their GP or the Community Respiratory Teams. The weekly classes are led by an exercise physiologist employed full time by BreatheEasy or senior physiotherapy students from Brighton University with supervision by a tutor. The classes include breathing and aerobic exercises and strength and mobility training as well as education. They provide much needed social connection and peer support. The PRMP enables participants to sustain the benefits achieved during NHS pulmonary rehabilitation, prevents physical decline, encourages lifelong exercise adherence, and celebrates movement at all activity levels. Classes have 8- 12 participants and 70% of those referred attend the programme. Participants report improved strength and mobility, reduced breathlessness and meaningful social connection. The physiotherapy students appreciate the opportunity to supervise the programme, with support from a tutor, for eight weeks as part of their course . This community placement may be the first time the students are exposed to patients with chronic respiratory diseases. BreatheEasy will be running our first Sports Day in August 2026. The planned activities include sit-to-stand challenge, walking relay, 50m walk, beanbag throw and coordination challenges. The Sports Day will be an opportunity for patients and families to gather and celebrate their achievements and to raise the profile of BreatheEasy . The Charity started in Eastbourne and has already spread to seven other towns in East Sussex. Our ambition is to support patients living with chronic respiratory diseases across the whole of Sussex and become BreatheEasy Sussex.