New projects launched for over 50s

TWO new projects are coming to Tameside for people over the age of 50 as a popular group expands its offerings.

Fit Over Fifty, a not-for-profit CIC, has been successfully supporting older people in the borough for more than nine years with a chaperone service and chair-based exercises.

Their aim is to help the over 50s improve their health and well-being, overcome isolation and stay independent.

Now, the group is proud to announce it is launching new exercise and reminiscence projects which are available for free to people over the age of 50 years.

They ran a number of extremely successful pilot sessions before the Covid-19 pandemic and are ready to start hosting them regularly.

They said: “Our ‘Those Were The Days’ reminiscence project, funded by the Lottery, takes us through a time tunnel back to the 1940s, 1950s and the swinging 1960s.

“This project is aimed at helping social isolation and memory issues. We have also found people have reunited friendships from the past and made new friends.

“We take a trip down memory lane and reflect on the good old days in entertainment, home, social life and work, with clips from archive films and everyday objects and group quizzes to evoke memories in a fun and interactive way.”

The sessions last approximately two hours with plenty of time to share each other’s experiences and are delivered by friendly, qualified trainers.

Meanwhile, the free exercise sessions ‘Use it or lose it’ are chair-based classes for the over 50s to help with flexibility, balance and strength and include exercise and refreshments.

The classes, which are funded through Tameside Council and Forever Manchester, use soft balls to strengthen wrists, resistance bands to strengthen legs and arms and sometimes you can even play with pom poms.• If you would like more further information on these sessions, see the advert below or email
office.fitoverfifty@gmail.com or call 07548 057715.