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Never too old to be active
‘You’re
never too old to be active’ is the message from an ‘Actively
Ageing Well’ event on Thursday 26 February 2004 at
Maysfield Leisure Centre, Belfast.
Physical activity is an important factor in staying healthy
and retaining independence as people get older. As well as
keeping the heart and lungs working efficiently, regular
physical exercise can help maintain a healthy weight and
keep muscles and bones strong.
The ‘Actively Ageing Well’ project
has been developed by Age Concern Northern Ireland and
the Health
Promotion Agency and is funded by lottery money awarded through
the New Opportunities Fund Healthy Living Centre Initiative.
Now in
its second year, ‘Actively Ageing Well’ works
with community and older people’s groups to support
and develop safe, sustainable and fun ways to get active.
The event will provide the opportunity for older people
to try different activities such as t’ai chi, swimming,
bowling or dancing.
Claire
Keatinge, Director of Community Development and Health
at Age Concern said: “It is really encouraging
to see so many people aged 50 plus enjoying physical activity.
Increased
physical activity can improve overall health and wellbeing.
This event provides an ideal opportunity for older people
to try out new activities and to socialise with groups from
other areas.”
The activity
day also provides an opportunity for the Health Promotion
Agency to further promote the Get Active in
the Community Cash Grant Awards 2004 along
with a new leaflet called Make the First Move aimed
at encouraging older people to take up different forms of
activity.
The Get
Active in the Community Cash Grants Awards scheme
is funded by the Department of Health, Social Services and
Public Safety as part of the Northern Ireland Physical
Activity Strategy and is administered for the Health Promotion
Agency by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.
Community and voluntary groups can apply for financial support
to develop new initiatives that encourage physical activity
in their area.
Dr Brian
Gaffney, Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency
commented: “I am delighted the awards are running
for a sixth year. They are important as we know that physical
activity is good for both the body and the mind and the awards
focus on activities that can be incorporated into people’s
daily lives.”
Application forms can be obtained from 0845 601
22 77 and
the closing date is 19 March 2004.
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