Every week, participants of the Bewegte Apotheke (“Pharmacy in motion”) gather at the same pharmacy to start their one hour walking tour in the city of Filderstadt. It is free of charge and the participants do not need to register beforehand. While offering the opportunity to chat and socialize, trainers also instruct exercises focusing on strength, balance and coordination. Since the beginning, the participant number is relatively stable at 20. There are always two trainers present, one walking up front, the other one in the back to ensure the groups stays together. This way, different levels of pace and fitness are included and welcome. Afterwards, participants are invited to stay at the pharmacy to have a drink, listen to a talk by the pharmacist on an up to date topic (e.g. flu shots in fall) and socialize. The project takes place in the morning during the regular opening hours of the pharmacy. This way, newly interested people get an impression of the project and participants can combine their partaking with a regular run to the pharmacy (e.g. to hand in a meds prescription). Obviously, the pharmacy and the project benefit mutually: the pharmacy has a chance to hold and gain new clients, whereas the project is advertised at a daily hot spot of its target group. The project is highly attractive for the participants, because it does not require a high level of bodily fitness, but offers an opportunity for conversation and chit-chat which seems to be of great benefit and fosters social inclusion.

The idea was introduced by the department of equality, social participation and health of the city of Filderstadt. The staff managed to find coaches (mainly involved with one of the local sport clubs and a local association of sport clubs) who were happy to join. The pharmacist was engaged, as soon as she had read about it in the minutes of a municipal meeting of the health sector. In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, it took a while until it was all set up for the first go and the project took off in 2023. The financing is relatively secure, since the city takes on the trainers’ allowance, and the pharmacy provides drinks and the time invest for the talk at its own expenses.