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The Joy Club Versus Arthritis

30 Apr 2021 | Written by Versus Arthritis

Versus Arthritis

Today, we’re proud to announce our partnership with Versus Arthritis, the UK’s largest charity dedicated to supporting people with arthritis.

Arthritis causes pain, swelling and stiffness in joints, and it’s more common among people aged 65 and over. Living with arthritis can be a challenge, but thankfully there’s a lot of support out there to help people have a fulfilling life with more movement. 

In this blog, the team at Versus Arthritis explain how they help those living with arthritis, describe the impact it can have on people’s lives, and talk about how exercise can help improve arthritis symptoms. 


Introducing Versus Arthritis

We are Versus Arthritis. We’re the 10 million people living with arthritis. We’re carers, researchers, healthcare professionals, friends, parents, runners and fundraisers. And we’re united in our ambition to ensure that one day no one will have to live with the pain, fatigue and isolation that arthritis causes.

We are committed to supporting those living with arthritis by:

  • Funding pioneering research to find safer treatments and improve people’s quality of life.
  • Supporting people with arthritis at every stage of their journey, so they always have somewhere to turn for advice and information.
  • Campaigning to raise awareness among government and policy makers, and asking society to recognise arthritis as an issue worthy of national concern.

It’s not ‘just a bit of arthritis’

Arthritis is devastating, debilitating and demoralising. It’s not ‘just a bit of arthritis’, or an inevitable part of ageing. Arthritis steals from people you know every day, and it’s one of the UK’s biggest health concerns.

10 million people – that’s one in six of us – are affected by arthritis, and eight million more live with a related musculoskeletal condition. Arthritis makes everyday activities a struggle, or completely impossible. It stops people from popping to the shops and leaves them unable to work or go out with friends – all things that many of us take for granted. 

Living with arthritis doesn’t just mean living in pain. Arthritis isolates people from their communities, limits their mobility and takes away their independence.

We know that to defy arthritis, we need to create supportive communities so that everyone gets the help and understanding they need. But arthritis has long been ignored and millions of people are suffering in silence. Together, we’re determined to change that. 

Get involved, have your voice heard and access our trusted information and guidance.

How movement can help

Exercise is one of the best ways to improve arthritis symptoms. So, to encourage movement and combat the isolation of arthritis, we’ve launched Let’s Move

Part of this programme is a weekly series of 30-minute movement sessions presented by our fitness expert, Leon Wormley. Let’s Move with Leon aims to help people with arthritis feel good and live healthy lives.

The classes offer a holistic, full body programme that’s designed to help people improve their strength, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness.

You can learn more about our exercise resources and get ideas for ways to get more movement into your life here.


To find out more about Versus Arthritis and how you can get involved, head over to the website: www.versusarthritis.org.

Not yet a member at The Joy Club? Sign up here.