Ageing Well News

Why not keep dancing with Age UK Somerset? 

We are launching a new dance-based exercise session in Uphill called Strictly Seniors, and it’s starting this Valentine’s Day.

This fun and dynamic class is designed for people over 55 and combines dance moves from salsa, rhumba and more. 

Starting 14th February, the weekly class will be delivered at Uphill Victory Hall, Westfield Road, BS23 4XG, Wednesdays at 10:15am, £4 per class. 

Instructor Tansin, who has been volunteering with Age UK Somerset since 2013 says, “Would you love to dance in the styles of Strictly, move to super music, stay healthy by challenging yourself from head to toe, and simply have a good time with fellow solo dance-lovers? Then this class is for you.” 

So why not love yourself this Valentine’s Day, and all year long, by joining this new fun and lively, choreographed class? 

You won’t need to bring a partner to enjoy this class, but please wear loose, comfortable clothes and shoes suitable to dance in, sequins are optional! 

Take Action against Pain with Age UK Somerset 

Arthritic pain can be debilitating, leading to reduced health and wellbeing. The Ageing Well team at Age UK Somerset have devised Action4Pain, a brand-new exercise class to help ease joint pain, strengthen muscles, and improve mobility & flexibility. Action4Pain will specifically target hip, knee and back pain, and can be adapted to suit your needs. 

The class will be held at Worle Baptist Church on Fridays at 9:30am, starting 7th July 2023, £5 per session. 

For the last year, the local charity have been working with the Healthier Together team to deliver ESCAPE-pain, a free group-based education and rehabilitation programme for people with chronic hip or knee pain. This new session is an ideal follow-on class for people who have completed the ESCAPE-Pain course, but this is not a pre-requisite. Delivered as a circuit-style exercise session, Action4Pain is highly adaptable and can be suited to anyone over 55 with hip, knee or back pain. 

Instructor Dawn says, ‘We are thrilled to be launching this new class. We hope Action4Pain will help our ESCAPE-pain participants and others continue to benefit from further exercise and give them the confidence and opportunity to keep active. The smaller classes allow exercises to be tailored to suit an individual’s needs and we look forward to seeing you in the class.’  

Age UK Somerset also confirm they will be continuing to deliver the free ESCAPE-pain course in Worle until summer 2024. This group-based rehabilitation program is for the management of knee and hip arthritis and includes both education and physical activity. Self-referral criteria include the participant must: have had chronic hip or knee pain for at least 3 months, be willing to attend the class twice a week for six weeks, be independently mobile and able to carry out individual exercises, live in North Somerset and be over 45. The program has been clinically proven to reduce pain, increase function, improve mental well-being and self-confidence.  

Pre-booking is essential for both Action4Pain and ESCAPE-Pain. For more information or to book your place contact the Ageing Well team: call 01823 2345624 or email ageingwell@ageuksomerset.org.uk 

More Tai Chi in 2023

Throughout 2022, the Ageing Well Service has been working hard to develop new Tai Chi QiGong sessions across the county, as part of their campaign to help keep older people active.

With funding from the COVID Outbreak Management Fund, Age UK Somerset has recruited and trained six new volunteers and have since launched five new sessions in towns and villages across Somerset, with one more starting in the new year. The new Tai Chi sessions are now delivered in Milverton, Seavington, South Petherton, Wellington and Yeovil, with Long Sutton starting in January.

QiGong, pronounced ‘Chee Gung’, is a form of Tai Chi that focuses on health.

Becky Bostock, manager of the Ageing Well service encourages people over 60 to sign up and give Tai Chi a try. ‘Tai Chi QiGong is great for your mind, body and wellbeing, and the moves, which have been modified to make them more accessible for older people, can improve balance, strength and flexibility.’

Join in the Euros fun and come and get a kick out of Age UK Somerset’s walking football group

With the Women’s Euros in full swing, Age UK Somerset is calling on the locals of the Bridgwater area to join its walking football group, which is open to everyone aged 55 and over.  

Football is the country’s national game, beloved of millions, and the walking version is a fun, friendly and safe way of engaging in physical activity in later life. It's open to everyone, whether you've played football before or not, and Age UK Somerset’s group aims to bring older people together to play in a fun and relaxed environment. It's great for the mind as well as the body and it’s a sociable sport, giving everyone involved the chance to make new friends and enjoy being part of a team. 

This local group is part of the Age UK Walking Football Programme, in partnership with Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust, and supported by The Football Association, to help older people in communities like Sedgemoor to keep active and to improve physical and mental wellbeing, whilst also helping to tackle loneliness and isolation. 

Age UK Somerset’s walking football sessions are held on Saturdays at 10:30 at Bridgwater and Taunton College Sports Hall. The sessions are open to anyone over the age of 55, regardless of ability or previous experience. All groups and sessions are COVID-secure and delivered in accordance with FA guidelines.   

Julie Bolton at Age UK Somerset said:  

“With all the excitement around the Women’s Euros, we’re hoping it will inspire the older people of the Bridgwater area to join our walking football group. It’s a friendly, non-contact, inclusive version and we hope locals will come along to join the fun.” 

James Kendall, Director of Football Development at The FA, said:  

“Walking football is increasing in popularity and it’s brilliant that these sessions are providing opportunities for players of all abilities to take part in what is a fun and inclusive activity, that improves health and social engagement. We hope the excitement of hosting the Women’s Euros in England will encourage even more people to head down to their local session and give it a go as it's a great way to socialise, make new friends and keep active at the same time.”

What is ESCAPE-pain?

Click the blue button to find out more!

If you would like further information or to discuss self-referral into the service, please contact us.

Call: 01823 345626

Or send us an email:ageingwell@ageuksomerset.org.uk

We look forward to hearing from you!

Our Annual Winter Gardens Pavillion Tea Dance

On Thursday 3rd October, Age UK Somerset held their annual fund raising event at the Winter Gardens Pavillion in Weston-super-Mare. More than 150 dancers attended, joined by families, carers and volunteers, whirling round to ballroom, Latin and sequence dance favourites. Music was provided by Mark Helmore.

The Tea Dancing event was organised by Tansin Benn, who is a Trustee and Volunteer of Age UK Somerset. Tansin was joined in the interval by 30 volunteers, who all attend local Age UK Somerset classes, to demonstrate some of the exercises and movements they learn each week. The charity runs more than 150 classes weekly, with 2,700 people regularly attending last year. The classes help keep older people healthy and active and provide important social contact. Nearly £2,000 was raised at the Tea Dance to support the charity’s activities in North Somerset.

Dianne Ramsay, Ageing Well’s Manager at Age UK Somerset said, “our tea dancing event gets better each year. We are incredibly lucky to have been supported by so many local businesses and organisations, including Avery Healthcare’s Acer House and The Hawthorns, as well as St Monica’s Trust, Helping Hands and Invest South West.

A special thank you to everyone who helped on the day, including NatWest who sent along some volunteers and local school, Mead Vale Primary, who allowed one of their pupils, Charlie Stevens, to take a day off school!”

World Tai Chi Day

On Saturday 28th April 2018 at The Italian Gardens, Weston Super Mare we celebrated World Tai Chi and Qigong day with over 100 people taking part in a mass Tai Chi session.

Our event was one of hundreds taking place globally and we organised it in conjuction with Cheryl Mountford of Bubbling Springs Tai Chi, to celebrate the benefits of Tai Chi and in a bid to encourage Weston’s older residents to become more active.

Tai Chi is just one of the many different types of sessions we organise throughout the area.

Photos courtesy of the Weston Mercury.