GENTLE ACTIVITY PROJECT

Exercise benefits older people. It improves general health and balance and — as just one example — helps to prevent falls. But the exercise needs to be tailored to them: arthritic joints and general ageing make many workout activities difficult or impossible, strenuous exercise can be worse than none at all, and gyms are expensive and their atmosphere is often off-putting.

One answer is regular group sessions of gentle sitting and standing exercises to music in informal environments in people’s local communities. The idea is to make these fun so the men and women taking part don’t think of them as being exercise. They will also become social events in their own right, which will help to avoid the isolation that can come with age.

RSVP West is working with Bristol City Council and the Bristol Primary Care Trust to set up a network of such sessions.

We’re looking for volunteers

The key first step is to recruit the team of volunteers who will lead the sessions. This may be where you come in. We’re particularly keen to recruit volunteers who are over 50. Experience isn’t necessary — we will take you through a training programme that leads to a qualification from the Open College Network. Once qualified, we will link you with a trainer who will be available to offer support.

There’s a lot more information in our GAP volunteering guide. (It’s in PDF format; if you haven’t got it already, you will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the guide or print it.)

You’re interested. So what next?

If you want more information, you can contact either:

• Jan Snook, RSVP West, The CREATE Centre, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN.
  Telephone: 0117 922 4392 or 0117 925 0505.
  Email: office@rsvp-west.org.uk.
• Lynne Joyner, Senior Development Officer (Physical Activity), Sport Services, Culture and Leisure Services, Bristol City Council, Colston 33, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4UA.
  Mobile: 07825 931 559.
  Email: sport@bristol.gov.uk.

To apply to join GAP as a volunteer, download our application form (PDF, 28 Kb). Fill it in, sign it, and post it to: GAP Project, Sport Services, Culture and Leisure Services, FREEPOST BS4529, Bristol, BS1 5ZZ. No stamp required.

Once we receive your application form we will get back to you with details of what to do next.

© 2003–08 RSVP West. Page last updated 19 August 2008