New exercise class - I'm a bit miffed.

Not surprised guilty are miffed! I find that very odd indeed. You wouldn't expect a class to be for English only! Hope Hom can throw some light on the strange situation. Let us know what transpires please.

You are miffed- apologies!

Will do. He can be a bit elusive, he's a busy man. Maybe he will pop in for a cuppa before the classes restart in the New Year.

Shelflife

Not surprised guilty are miffed! I find that very odd indeed. You wouldn't expect a class to be for English only! Hope Hom can throw some light on the strange situation. Let us know what transpires please.

I'd award myself a new Nepalese name and sign up.

Definitely; ask why and who is funding it.

There used to be free play groups for 'international family's ( thats how it was termed) ....run by the LA.... they stopped them about a year later ...don't know why

I like football and played at school. I was thinking of trying a local women's group but then found it was for ethnic minorities.

It sounds very odd.

How many Nepalese patients with COPD live in your area? It sounds so specific that there may not be enough people for a group to keep going for long unless they open it up to other patients too.

Yes, ask your friend.

Just a thought, sometimes charities will specifically target groups which normally have difficulty accessing activities, perhaps because of a language barrier. Perhaps the fitness class is taken by someone who is able to speak Nepalese. I don't suppose you live in the Aldershot/Basingstoke area?

I don’t see how you could legitimately be labelled Racist or Troublemaker , especially as you were encouraged to take this class and you have difficulty getting to the next town.

This sounds a bit crazy to me .
Is this class only for the speakers of Devananagri only or perhaps Tibetan or one of the less spoken hill tribe languages or for those who live in the Kathmandu Valley?
Meet up with one or two of these Nepalis and ask them if they'd mind if you came to their class .
I've never met an unfriendly one .
This is actually racism !

Foxie's point - before leaping to judgments

Simply

Find out, why.

It's not specifically a COPD class. As far as I can tell from the info available it is a general exercise class and (within number limits) open to any Nepalese female over 65 who is interested. I am assuming it is one of the Pay-for classes as it doesn't appear to need a Doctor's referral.

I go to the one (COPD) pay-for class I can get to as much for my general mobility issues as for the COPD element. Exercise is exercise.

Are there many Nepalese over the age of 65 living in your area? I personally doubt it.

It is racist.

I only know of two Nepalese people here (well, I know one who is a neighbour and know of one who is a friend's neighbour).

Both are young women with a family and well integrated in the local communities.

If you are not allowed to join this Council-run group then that is discrimination because the Council is discriminating against you on grounds of race.

I really would find out officially what the reasoning is?

Wyllow3

I really would find out officially what the reasoning is?

Yes, that is important.

May I just explain something. It's neither discriminatory nor racist to exclude someone who is not a member of a disadvantaged group which is covered by legislation from attending something which is for one. Eg an exercise group set up for women, for people with a disability or for a minority group. Some may think it's unfair, may resent funding being spent like this but it's most certainly not racist or discriminatory. Rushmoor healthy living ( RHL) for example is a charity which runs lots of different classes which target specific groups who are under represented in your usual exercise class as well as classes which are designed for people with certain health conditions like COPD. I'm aware that they run a class for Nepalese people taught by a Nepalese tutor in an area where there is a community with links to Gurka families who have settled in the UK. This is why I asked the OP if she lived in the area where RHL run classes.

I am inclined to approach the Council about this, but am not sure if I would be labelled Racist or a troublemaker.

It is pretty terrible that the poster is anxious about making queries because she is scared of being labelled racist or a troublemaker. As she has a specific medical condition and has a doctor's note to certify she needs this sort of exercise she most certainly has a right to enquire and request an explanation if she is denied a place.
. I am aware concern is being expressed over some theatres holding black-only nights

"I am inclined to approach the Council about this, but am not sure if I would be labelled Racist or a troublemaker."

Which is exactly why posters have suggest that OP just asks why she can't attend and I have tried to clarify why running activities for certain groups is neither racist nor discriminatory.

If the O/P has been strongly recommended by their GP to attend such courses and if afraid of asking, it may be possible to ask the GP to ask "can my patient come" in a neutral way, or indeed even more simple Aely to approach one of the local councillors just to ask "can X came to the class too, as she is in need of it and there is no alternative.

Bear in mind there will almost certainly be good reasons for it being women only, and that has to be honoured.

I have managed to find some more information on the exercise class. It is described as having both Physical and Social activities (it lasts for 2 hours instead of the normal 1 hour) to help participants make new friends as well as stay healthy. That would be good as far as I am concerned but I know that very few of the older ladies actually speak English beyond Hello and Thank you. (The younger Nepalese have very reasonable English.) I can say a polite Namaste and that is it.
I am surprised it is felt they need such a social gathering to make friends as the Nepalese community is very tight. Most of the ladies' husbands served together, if they are around the same age.

I have also discovered the sessions are held on a Friday afternoon - when I am often otherwise engaged. It is when my daughter can visit. So the class would not be convenient.

I have sent an email to the lady who books the Healthy Living classes saying that I had noticed the new class and adding the following.

"I would be very interested in such a local class which was not restricted to the Nepalese community (I'm not Nepalese, don't speak their language and most of the older Nepalese have restricted English, particularly the older ladies), as I suffer from social isolation and no transport. Any chance we might get one?"

I'll let you know what reply I get.

I think its a great idea to ask for what you need, but why "put down" the Nepalese initiative when it clearly is purposeful and needful?

Maybe more,

"It was great to see xxxx happening locally, please can those of us who have XXXX needs also have some provision for us?

We actually don't know how the funding was obtained for the Nepalese class, it may have been applied for on a specific basis, but there are quite a lot of wellbeing initiatives funded by the NHS springing up over the country: why not contact your local MP to try and snag one?