Visitors to Ewood Park are getting their ‘kicks’ thanks to the Active 8 project run by Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, with the initiative proving to be a real winner both physically and socially with community members over 50 years of age.
As well as offering enjoyable exercise, through activities such as dance, tai-chi, Wii sports and walking, the sessions also afford a chance for social engagement, thereby contributing to emotional health and well-being.
The fully inclusive programme offers two hours of activity over a 30-week period. Refreshments are provided at each session and participants are encouraged to make time for a chat and a brew at the end of each activity.
Active 8 is run in association with Extra Time. Funded by the Football Foundation and Sport Relief, Extra Time is a two-year pilot scheme that uses the power of football to target older people and delivers social inclusion and physical activity projects nationwide.
Premier League Line Dancing
On offer on Mondays is ‘Premier League Line Dancing’, where small groups receive one-to-one instruction with a professional teacher in the Education Department’s dance studio.
Betty Walton, from Blackburn, said: “I enjoy coming because of the company and of course it keeps you fit as well.
“Over a year ago I had a triple heart bypass, so I’ve got to keep fit. I do the line dancing on a Monday and the walking on a Tuesday and I look forward to coming every week.
“It does keep me fit and the doctors have told me that I need to try and do as much as I can.
“There are always different dances and different steps to learn, sometimes we all get mixed up, but we all enjoy it and have a laugh.”
Jean Gray, from Blackburn, said: “I retired early from work and I wanted to keep active. So I do some line dancing for the physical side of life and it’s something to look forward to, you meet new friends and you keep active as well.
“Especially when you don’t have to get up for work in the morning, you’ve got to do something that gets you out, so this is great for that. The social side of things is half of it. You meet nice people and you have a cup of tea or coffee, so that’s a great side of it as well. You could sit in your house all day not seeing anybody.”
Jack’s Walkers
On Tuesday’s, it’s ‘Jack’s Walkers’, where participants walk approximately six laps around the pitch at their own pace.
Anona Rushton and Joyce Windle, from Blackburn, said: “Out in the fresh air, every morning, it’s great! It’s good exercise, you can have a good chat with good company and you get a cup of tea at the end of it!
“It’s very important to try and remain active. It’s a bad policy just to wind down when you get to a certain age. Even though you do your housework, it’s not the same as being outside and in the open air.
“It’s great that the club provide the facilities for these things to happen and we appreciate it. And the weather doesn’t put us off. If it rains, then we go onto the concourse underneath the Darwen End and walk from end to end.”
