Manchester-based arts organisation Made By Mortals CIC has teamed up with national charity Parkinson’s UK to create a special new Armchair Adventures episode, helping children aged 6 to 10 understand Parkinson’s in a fun, accessible and imaginative way.
Part of the award-winning Armchair Adventures podcast, A Planet Exercise Adventure! is a three-part adventure, co-created with Parkinson’s UK and developed in partnership with people living with Parkinson’s, as well as carers and loved ones.
Across the adventure, listeners join Chief Adventurer Connie, her Nanna Debs and a gang of explorers as they travel to “Planet Exercise”. It’s a vibrant, musical world filled with different ways to move, from gentle stretching to energetic dancing. Along the way, they discover that exercise can look and feel different for everyone.
Inspired by Nanna Debs’ Parkinson’s diagnosis, the adventure follows Connie’s desire to help her stay well, leading to a heartfelt journey about understanding change, listening to others, and learning how to support the people we love.
As Nanna Debs explains in Part 1, “Exercise can help people with Parkinson’s feel better, just like medicine.”
Through join-in storytelling, music and movement, the series helps children and families explore Parkinson’s in a child-friendly way, understanding how it can affect movement and daily life, and why staying active can help.
A Planet Exercise Adventure! launches on 7 May, with further episodes on 21 May and 4 June, followed by a special Unpacked companion episode on 18 June.
You can listen to Armchair Adventures for free on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, or at www.podfollow.com/Armchair-
Andy Smith, Artistic Director at Made By Mortals, said:
“Armchair Adventures is all about turning real experiences into joyful, imaginative stories for families. Working with Parkinson’s UK and people living with Parkinson’s has helped us create something that feels both playful and truthful, helping children understand a complex condition in a way that’s accessible and reassuring. Partnerships like this are vital to what we do, they make sure the stories we tell are not only creative, but genuinely meaningful.”
Helen Sturman, Area Development Manager at Parkinson’s UK said:
“We’re really excited about the launch of this Armchair Adventures episode. Explaining Parkinson’s to children isn’t always easy, and this is a fun way to help them understand how it can affect people. A big thank you to everyone with Parkinson’s who shared their experiences of living with Parkinson’s in the making of the story.”
How physical activity can help people to live well with Parkinson’s
Being active can be one of the best ways to live well with a long term health condition, such as Parkinson’s, and the some of the benefits can include:
- Improved balance and coordination
- Better strength, flexibility and mobility
- Improved sense of wellbeing and mindfulness
- Better memory and cognitive skills
- Greater social interaction
- Improved speech and communications skills
Parkinson’s is a complex brain condition that gets worse over time. It has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety, and there is no cure. Someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the UK every 20 minutes and by 2050, the number of people living with the condition worldwide will double to 25 million.
Parkinson’s UK is the leading European funder of Parkinson’s research and here to support every Parkinson’s journey, every step of the way. For information and support, visit parkinsons.org.uk or call the charity’s free, confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303.
For more information about Made by Mortals and the Armchair Adventures series, visit www.madebymortals.org/
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About Armchair Adventures
Armchair Adventures is an award-winning podcast for curious children aged 6–8 who love to use their imaginations. The series invites young listeners to join Chief Adventurer Connie and her gang of explorers on musical, interactive “journeys of the imagination.”
Part audio drama, part musical and part movement session, each adventure blends original songs, immersive sound design and playful participation. Stories explore themes such as inclusion, mental health, climate, community and creativity – always in a fun and accessible way.
Armchair Adventures has received wide critical acclaim, topped podcast charts worldwide, partnered with Yoto’s screen-free audio player, launched a Patreon fan club, and became the first children’s podcast available on all Virgin Atlantic flights. New episodes are released fortnightly.
How to listen
You can listen to Armchair Adventures for free on all podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube. You can also listen on your Google Home, Alexa, Yoto Player or directly here: www.podfollow.com/Armchair-
Platform links
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/
79AFh1Kgsx9LCCZkgOnZle - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.
apple.com/gb/podcast/armchair- adventures-a-join-in-story- podcast-for-kids/id1531902282 - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=9IHl9v7PIZM
About Made By Mortals CIC
Made By Mortals is a participatory arts not-for-profit based in Manchester and the producer of the award-winning children’s podcast Armchair Adventures. The organisation creates podcasts, film and musical theatre in collaboration with professional artists, social care organisations and community participants, using a co-creation model that puts lived experience at the heart of every project.
Made By Mortals tells experience-led stories to raise awareness and spark conversations about real societal issues. Its mission is to provide accessible and inclusive creative opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds, fostering personal growth, social cohesion and a sense of belonging.
www.madebymortals.org || www.facebook.com/madebymortals
About Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s UK
Parkinson’s is a complex brain condition that has no cure and gets worse over time. It has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety. And Parkinson’s is on the rise. Someone is diagnosed every 20 minutes in the UK today. By 2050, the number of people with Parkinson’s worldwide will double to 25 million.
Parkinson’s UK is the charity that’s here to support every Parkinson’s journey, every step of the way. Wherever you’re from, whatever you need.
From searching for a cure and campaigning for better health and care, to funding research into groundbreaking new treatments and running life-changing support services. It’s all driven by one mission: improving life with Parkinson’s.
See more facts and statistics on the Parkinson’s UK website.
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