Sport England grant

AGE UK NORTH TYNESIDE is celebrating after being awarded £167,868 of National Lottery funding to help older people in North Tyneside stay active when their life circumstances change.

Sport England research shows that there are nearly 15 million people who are regularly active in England, which means they have a resilient habit of sport and physical activity.  

Active people benefit from enhanced quality of life, confidence, and improved physical and mental wellbeing. But even people with the strongest habits are at risk of dropping out when they go through a major life change, whether that’s a serious injury or illness, having a baby, children starting school, a new job, moving house or retiring.  

Age UK North Tyneside is one of a number of partners that Sport England is working with to help people to stay active – particularly those most vulnerable to dropping out, such as people on a low income, women, older people and people with a disability.

Age UK North Tyneside supports over 3000 local people aged 50+ out in the community. The Sport England programme will target people who have been active through their lives, but due to a medical diagnosis, decline in mobility or an event that has knocked confidence, re-engage in new activities that allow them to stay fit, healthy and active, ‘Making More of Life’.  The project will run over 4 years with the first year linking with delivery partner Collingwood Surgery and focussing on North Shields but being borough wide by year 4.

Sport England's Director of Sport Phil Smith said:
“We know that when life changes, activity habits can change too. Leaving school or college, getting a new job, starting a family, retiring from work - all big challenges for even the most committed to sport and fitness. We want to find out what would make it easier for people to stay active after that big change.
Thanks to National Lottery players, we are giving Age UK North Tyneside project funding so they can help older people to rediscover old favourites or engage in new activities that support their health and wellbeing, especially when illness or reduced mobility has prevented individuals from continuing to do what they have always done to live a full and active life. Sport England will support this work and share what works – and what doesn't – more widely among the sport sector so more can be done to help support people to keep up their activity habits whatever happens in their lives."
Alma Caldwell Age UK North Tyneside Chief Executive said “Supporting older people to be fit, active and loving later life is what Age UK North Tyneside is all about. This National Lottery funding will allow is to support more older residents to do just that.”


About Sport England
Sport England is a public body and invests more than £300 million National Lottery and government money each year in projects and programmes that help people get active and play sport.

It wants everyone in England, regardless of age, background, or level of ability, to feel able to engage in sport and physical activity. That’s why a lot of its work is specifically focused on helping people who do no, or very little, physical activity and groups who are typically less active - like women, disabled people and people on lower incomes.


Age UK North Tyneside will be appointing a new project co-ordinator in April 2018, check local press, website and social media for up-dates and more information.