A Pro-‘Active’ Approach to Health
Age Concern Northern Ireland ’s Community Sport initiative continues to provide older people with opportunities to participate in physical activity within their local leisure and community centres. Coleraine Borough Council and Lisburn City Council are currently working in partnership with Age Concern to break down the barriers which make it difficult for older people to use their local leisure facilities.

The Community Sport initiative is Lottery Funded by Sport Northern Ireland and six local authority councils throughout Northern Ireland have established partnerships with Age Concern via the programme. The initiative aims to increase participation in physical activity and sport by older people and improve uptake of council run leisure and community centres. Anyone over 50 is invited to come along and participate in a fun and enjoyable session. The 50+ physical activity groups in the Coleraine and Lisburn council areas focus on providing older people with improved health and social skills through physical activity and exercise.

Coleraine Over 50's
Coleraine Borough Council’s over 50 club is currently taking place in Coleraine Leisure Centre, featuring activities such as dancing, boccia, badminton and new age curling. Coleraine’s Community Sports Development Officer Stephen McCartney had this to say, “The programme has been a tremendous success in Coleraine with over 25 members, both men and women taking part every Thursday morning from 10.30 – 12.00 noon. Many of the over 50’s in our group had never been in Coleraine Leisure Centre before and now they get full use of the facilities such as the health suite, swimming pool and taking part in dance classes. The group continues to flourish and new members are very welcome.”

Lisburn Active Life Club
Lisburn City Council also offers sport and physical activity through their ‘Active Life Club’ in the Lagan Valley Leisureplex. The club provides its members with activities such as Tai Chi, aerobic keep fit classes and archery. Lisburn’s Community Sport Development Officer Conleth Donnelly is extremely enthusiastic about the programme. He said, “Here in Lisburn we offer excellent provision to older people through our Active Life Club. Our programme runs every Tuesday morning and all activities are designed in consultation with the club members in order to ensure an enjoyable physical activity session. Our programme specialises in providing health and social benefits to over 50’s and to date it has been extremely successful.”

Coleraine and Lisburn are excellent examples of local authority provision for older people. The Community Sports Development Programme is in its third year and local councils in Belfast , Craigavon, Newry and Fermanagh will also be implementing older people’s physical activity programmes in the near future.

If you would like to get involved with Age Concern’s Community Sports Development Programme or to find out if your local council can help you get involved in physical activity contact:

Michael Cooke
Community Sports Development Officer
Age Concern Northern Ireland
3 Lower Crescent
Belfast
BT7 1NR

email: MCooke@ageconcernni.org

Tel: 028 9024 5729