Age Active
David
Schofield
Co-Ordinator
Mission
Age Active is a registered charity providing health and fitness activities for the over fifties in the south yorkshire area.
The classes cover a wide range of activities allowing as many people of differing abilities as possible to be included in the sessions. The classes include Keep Fit, Tai Chi, Line Dancing, Zumba, Sequence Dancing, and Yoga.
The benefits of regular physical exercise and activity are well documented, there being a lot of evidence for psychological benefits as well as physical. As much as anything the charity’s work has always been to provide opportunities for socialising, a social group that people can become a part of and belong to, an essential part of people’s lives as they get older.
Category
Care for the Eldery
Additional Information
The affects of the pandemic have been particularly harsh on the older population. More and more people have found themselves becoming isolated and inactive. The need for the charity’s work was strong beforehand but has now become vital. From our own experience we have seen many people suffer greatly from the effects of lockdown, both mentally and physically, isolation in particular being extremely damaging.
Age Active needs to get through this next phase of the pandemic. It was assumed in many quarters that the worst of it would be over by now, this doesn’t seem to be the case. Many people are still unsure about joining in group activities, and travelling on public transport is still not considered safe by everyone.
Consequently class sizes have not returned to their previous levels, income has not returned to per covid levels, whereas outgoings are still the same, rents in fact, have increased.
Once the pandemic is actually over it is this age group that will need activities and social opportunities the most, they will not be returning to a work situation, and will only have limited social opportunities.
