We are fortunate in having a number of dedicated teachers of Tai Chi, Yoga,
Dance and other exercise classes at the Centre, and none of them was
consulted about the plan to change the use of one of our halls from exercise
to a café.

Over the last couple of years we have lost exercise rooms at 44b Princes St,
the Asian Cultural Centre and the church hall at SS Mary & John - at a time
when the nation as a whole is facing serious health problems from obesity
and lack of exercise.

The Healthy Living Initiative is obviously just window dressing: recently a
free course offered at the Asian Cultural Centre was abandoned due to lack
of interest. Other courses they propose include Homeopathic First Aid for
Children, which sounds downright dangerous and could result in parents
trying to treat children themselves instead of taking them to a doctor.

The main income of East Oxford Community Centre comes from renting rooms to
exercise classes, which are well attended by people of all ages and all
backgrounds. If we lose one of our halls to the Healthy Living Initiative
it will have a serious impact on the finances of the Centre and the
community as a whole.