RESIDENTS of all ages and abilities are being invited to try something new later as a wide-ranging Festival of Sport and Wellbeing comes to Active Copley in Stalybridge.
The free event will see the leisure centre on Huddersfield Road transformed into a hub of indoor, outdoor and water-based activities – alongside health advice, careers information and family-friendly attractions.
Organised by Active Tameside, the festival on Saturday, January 31, aims to give people a hands-on introduction to the range of sport, fitness and wellbeing opportunities available locally – particularly those who may not have visited the centre before.
Activities already confirmed include dodgeball, karate, swimming, snorkelling, tennis, table tennis, archery, fencing and cricket sessions for children aged five to 16. There will also be boccia, curling, yoga, relaxation sessions and a fun inclusive warm-up to start the day.
Accessibility and inclusion are a key focus, with adaptive bikes for disabled riders, a “little riders” session, and a range of family-friendly options including a pony petting patch, creche provision and rhyme time. Young visitors can also meet Disney’s Princess Ariel.
For teenagers and adults, the spin studio will host three virtual classes for those aged 13 and over, while the small pool will offer general swimming for one adult and up to two children, including non-swimmers.
Gavin Browne, Active Tameside’s Head of Active Education, said: “It’s an open invitation for people to come along and try the activities going on throughout the day, to see the types of opportunities available in the local community.
“A key element to the day is trying to improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing of the local community, so hopefully people, especially those who’ve not been in the centre before, can see what they can get involved in.
“We’re working with many of our local partners through TSPAN (Tameside Sport and Physical Activity Network) on this to provide a pathway into their clubs that hopefully will lead to a lifelong engagement with physical activity.”
Local clubs including Stalybridge Swimming Club, Goldcrest Archers, Micklehurst Cricket Club and Ashton Fencing Club will each run hour-long sessions, with the day finishing with a dance performance from the Titans troupe. Go to activetameside.com/festival-of-sport-wellbeing for more information.