Age Concern in Dudley, work in partnership with the council and Primary Care Trust, to provide a range of activities that are designed to keep people active, and to help build social contacts. The project is called Leisure, Exercise and Activity for People over 60 (LEAP). Some exercise / learning programmes are arranged directly by LEAP and are held in local leisure or community centres. LEAP also maintain a database that is used to signpost older people into the full range of activities available in the area.
The LEAP team recognised that many of the local classes and programmes that were initially available were more attractive to women than men, and that a more diverse range of programmes, held away from leisure and community centres were needed. Now the area has a range of activities that attract men, including:
- walking and rambles
- camera clubs
- fishing
- bowling
- computer classes
- quizzes
'We recognised that a lot of the things available would attract women but not men. We learnt that men like tai chi, digital photography and IT classes. We have also held some events and quizzes in local pubs, and have arranged things like evenings where people can play cards. We have also branched out into clubs for people interested in model aeroplanes and fishing.'
Dudley Age Concern