A new project is launching at Newmarket Leisure Centre next week to get more older people back into exercise by buddying them up with local volunteers.
The scheme is called The Welcome Project and it wants to break down people’s psychological barriers and get more people using their local leisure centre.
Staff from the Project have been going out into the community to talk to people at the Day Centre and library to stress the importance of physical activity and find out why people don’t use their leisure centre and what can be done to address that.
Feedback from the talks was very positive with people being interested in getting active but at the same time feeling daunted and self-conscious about looking out of place.
Volunteers have already come forward to help with the scheme and will be trained this week ready to launch the project next Tuesday at Newmarket Leisure Centre.
Gill Robinson, Manager of Suffolk Volunteering Federation, explains: “Contrary to popular misconception, local leisure centres are not full of lots of lycra-clad 20 year olds! Our volunteers are all ages and all sizes and they will be on hand to welcome newcomers to the centre to have a look round, a cup of tea and a chat. Nobody will be too old or too unfit to come along. There will be no stereotyped ideals.”
The first session of The Welcome Project will be on Tuesday 2 March between 8.30am and 10.30am which can include the Gently Does It class and the next is on Wednesday 3 March from 1.30pm to 3.30pm to include a swimming session. However, people are welcome to simply turn up for a chat and free cuppa and don’t have to take part in anything. Volunteers will meet and greet people as they come through the door. Anyone who turns up will get a free tea or coffee and goodie bag with information, bus timetables and vouchers for free trial classes. They will also have the chance to chat to a volunteer about their desires, fears and general questions.
Volunteers have also been given vouchers to try out the different classes themselves so that they can speak knowledgably to others about them.
Kate Tucker, Active Lifestyle Co-ordinator for Anglia Community Leisure, says: “We just want more people to come along, have a look and have a chat. There will be no pressure on them to do more than that but if someone says to us that they’d always wanted to learn to swim but thought they were too old, we would be delighted to get them in the pool and help them do it! ”