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It’s common knowledge that exercise brings many benefits. Improvement in mood, stronger in body or mind, being physically fitter or feeling happier. But there are also many more benefits such as providing opportunities to make new friends, feeling part of a wider community and thus combating isolation and loneliness.
“I would say I look forward to it with enthusiasm each week…They’re all such lovely people. It lifts your spirit… It’s the banter and the how are you? Is your husband getting better? …It’s about being part of a social group.”
Keep Fit runs on a Tuesday and a Friday from 12.30-1.30 and is a hive of physical and social activity with plenty of fun and laughter. There’s a variety of 60’s songs to get everybody moving.
“The music that you do it to is our era of music… You sing along as well…She’s such fun. She really is.”
“One lady said to me it’s a bit like Line Dancing… You always hide at the back don’t you…There’s no good hiding because you’ll be in the front!”
“It’s so easy to sit down on that settee with the television” which is incredibly common. In fact Age UK report that two fifths of all older people (about 3.9 million) say that television is their main company (Age UK, 2014) “The ladies that are on their own sometimes that’s their only social activity in their week really.“
Healthy Eating runs on a Tuesday from 11.30am-12.30pm and if the group aren’t sharing their latest recipe then they’re learning top tips from Sharon.
“It’s a very good friendly, social able group. You learn a lot…even though I would say I’ve been dieting all my life I thought I knew every diet. You do learn all the time…Everybody listens to everybody which is a good thing…We [all] swap recipes”
“I ask her different things and she’s always brilliant”
So why not pop along and join us? You’ll be sure to have a warm welcome.
Laura Burchett,
North Bristol Community Development Worker