Free walking sports sessions to celebrate Older People's Day

A series of free walking sports sessions will be held in Bridlington for the first time next week as part of Older People’s Day with the aim of encouraging people to get fit and active regardless of ability.

Older People’s Day is celebrated nationally on 1 October to coincide with the United Nations International Day of the Older Person.

To coincide with the event the East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s sport, play and arts service will demonstrate that age is no obstacle to playing sport and meeting new people by offering walking netball and walking football sessions.

These sessions will be free of charge and if successful could become regular fixtures for Bridlington.

Councillor Richard Harrap, council portfolio holder for adult and carer services, said: “The introduction of walking sports to the East Riding has so far helped many older people try out a sport for the first time or rediscover their love of a particular sport, regardless of their level of fitness or ability.

“It is fantastic to see walking sports now potentially being rolled out to Bridlington, especially as part of Older People’s Day, which is the perfect opportunity to highlight the fact that age is no barrier to being able to enjoy sport and exercise.”

Walking sports are offered to East Riding residents as part of the council’s Let’s Get Moving programme, which is commissioned by adult services with the aim of helping people stay fit and active regardless of ability.

A free walking netball session will be held at East Riding Leisure Bridlington, 1-2pm on Monday 2 October, and a walking football session will be held at the same leisure centre, 1-2pm on Wednesday 4 October.

Walking sports are designed to encourage people aged 50 and over to take part in fun, sociable games perhaps after having to take a break due to illness or injury or to simply improve fitness and meet new people.

Both walking netball and walking football are played with adapted rules and are suitable for all levels of fitness.

The first in a six week block of gentle exercise sessions will also be held at the Victoria Business Centre, Bridlington from 10am-11am on Wednesday 4 October, followed by a quiz and light refreshments from 11am-11.30am.

Keen walkers can also take part in the free weekly Mile Marker Health Walk on Thursday 5 October, which covers a two mile route, leaving East Riding Leisure Bridlington at 10am and finishing at 11am.

Sarah Johnson, sport and active communities officer, added: “We are really excited to be marking Older People’s Day in this way because the sport, play and arts service really does have a wide range of activities and sports to offer people of all abilities, and we would encourage people to come along and give it a go.”