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Health and Wellbeing Service

Active Ageing

Group of older men using the gym

Stay strong, stay active and keep doing the things you enjoy.

Active Ageing supports adults aged 60 and over to stay active, maintain strength and balance, and continue living independently. 

Getting older is a natural part of life and there are things we can do to stay healthier, stronger and more independent as we age. Keeping active can help maintain your strength, fitness, balance and mobility, making everyday activities easier and helping you continue doing the things you enjoy.

Whatever your current level of activity, it's never too late to start moving more. Small, achievable changes can make a real difference to how you feel.

How can being more active help?

Regular physical activity can help you to:

  • maintain and improve your strength and mobility
  • improve your balance and feel steadier on your feet
  • build confidence in everyday movement
  • maintain your independence
  • have more energy
  • sleep better
  • reduce stress and improve your mood
  • maintain a healthy weight
  • feel more focused and clear-headed
  • continue doing the everyday activities that are important to you

Improving your strength and balance is particularly important as you get older, helping you feel more confident and reducing your risk of falls. This is consistent with NHS advice for older adults, which recommends regular activity alongside exercises that improve strength, balance and flexibility. 

What programme is right for me? 

We offer two Active Ageing programmes, depending on how much support you need.  If you're not sure which one is right for you, please contact us and we'll be happy to help.

Guided support

Our Guided Support Programme is for people who would benefit from regular, supervised activity and additional support to improve their strength, balance, mobility and confidence. 

The programme runs for 26 weeks, with two one-hour sessions each week.

You'll take part in friendly, small group sessions with support from a qualified member of our Health and Wellbeing Team. Activities focus on:

  • building strength
  • improving balance and stability
  • maintaining and improving mobility
  • helping you move with greater confidence
  • supporting you to stay active and independent

The small group setting also gives you the opportunity to meet new people, make friends and enjoy being active as part of a friendly and supportive group.

Independent support

Our Independent Support Programme is for people who need less support and feel ready to exercise more independently.

The programme runs for 12 weeks and includes:

  • a personalised exercise programme to follow in the gym
  • access to specific low-impact exercise classes
  • support to improve your strength, fitness and mobility
  • opportunities to build your confidence and become more independent with your exercise

The aim is to help you find activities that work for you and build the confidence to make regular physical activity part of your everyday life.

How do I access Active Ageing?

The way you access Active Ageing depends on which programme is right for you.

For the Guided Support Programme, speak to your GP or health professional. If they think you would benefit from the programme they will refer you to us and we'll take if from there.

For the Independent Support Programme, you can contact us directly. We'll have an initial conversation with you about your needs and help you decide whether the programme is right for you. Contact us or call 0151 351 3461.

Where does the programme take place?

Sessions take place at various locations across the city, including Lifestyles centres and other community venues. We'll let you know what options are available and help you find a session that's convenient for you.

What happens after the programme has finished?

At the end of the programme, our Health and Wellbeing Team will talk to you about your progress, review your results and discuss any further support you may need.

Where helpful, we'll also tell you about other local activities and services that can help you continue to stay active. This could include:

  • exercise classes
  • health and wellbeing activities
  • social and community groups
  • other local support services

By the end of the programme, we hope you'll have experienced the benefits of regular physical activity and feel more confident about continuing to lead a healthy, active lifestyle.

If you'd like to continue exercising at one of our Lifestyles centres, we offer a range of affordable membership options. 

 See our Lifestyles memberships page for details and prices or discuss the options with your Health and Wellbeing instructor.