Helping Over-55s Get Active

21 September, 2007

A new set of physical activities for older people kicks off in North Norfolk next week.

North Norfolk District Council and the Active Norfolk partnership host a new programme of free one- to four-mile walks as part of the Norfolk-wide Fit Together initiative sponsored by Lloyds Pharmacy, aimed at improving health and fitness for those in mid-life and beyond.

The North Norfolk walks will be based around Cromer and Sheringham initially, and the first one will take place on 11 October, starting at 11am at the Sheringham branch of Lloyds Pharmacy.

But before then, there will be a training session for volunteer walk leaders on Tuesday, 25 September, from 10am to 4pm, starting at Merchants Place in Cromer.

Anyone who would like to consider leading walks in the ongoing programme is welcome to attend this event.

The training walk will be delivered by Martin Seymour, Health Improvement Manager for Breckland Council and the Norfolk Primary Care Trust, and will cover:

• an introduction to the scheme and links between physical activity and health
• walk leader roles and responsibilities
• components of a health walk
• health and safety issues.

Volunteer walk leaders can commit as much or as little time as they wish. They will work as assistant walk leaders at first, and will not be expected to take walks on their own before they feel ready. Expenses are paid to volunteers and a basic, two-hour first aid course is also given at no charge to the volunteers.

Over the next six months the scheme will be rolled out across the county, based around other clusters of Lloyds pharmacies. For details of walks or to volunteer please call 01263 516029 or email walks@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Fit Together is initially funded for two years by Lloyds Pharmacy with match funding from the National Sports Foundation, Sport England, the Norfolk Primary Care Trust and local authorities.

The walking scheme is based on a national initiative established jointly in 2000 by the Countryside Agency and British Heart Foundation, which aimed to get over a million people more physically active through brisk walking.

Around 400 schemes exist across the country, supported by 30,000 volunteer walk leaders. Further activities will be added to the Fit Together programme as time goes on, including dance, keep fit and cycling - for which volunteers will also be needed.

Tea dances
North Norfolk residents looking for a new social activity can dig out their dancing shoes to take part in tea dances on Tuesday afternoons at the Copeman Centre in Briston, near Melton Constable. The first dance takes place with a free two-hour taster session at 2pm on 9 October.

The sessions, which are being organised through a partnership between North Norfolk District Council, Active North Norfolk and Sport England, will allow people to enjoy an afternoon of social dancing, light exercise and refreshments in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The sessions will take place between 2 and 4pm with a charge of £2 per person. Beginners and people of all abilities from across North Norfolk are welcome and no booking is necessary.

Karl Read, Leisure and Cultural Services Manager for North Norfolk District Council said: "A recent national Sport England survey showed that more needs to be done to encourage people to take part in different activities. We are working with partners to provide residents with new opportunities to enjoy an active and social life, which has been shown to greatly improve people's health and sense of wellbeing."

If you would like further information, or directions to the dance venue, please contact Melanie Brown on 01263 516029.

Notes for Editor

• Active North Norfolk is the newly-formed community sport partnership for North Norfolk. The partnership has been developed to promote, support and deliver sports and activity opportunities across the District.
• The Active People Survey carried out by Sport England in 2006 showed that just 18.2 per cent of North Norfolk residents overall take part in 30 minutes of moderate sports and activity at least three times a week, slightly lower than the regional average of 20.5 per cent. The group with the lowest levels of participation in North Norfolk is the 55+ age range (10.3 per cent).

ENDS