Oct 22, 2018 | ActivSports
The ‘Everyday Activ Ipswich’ initiative, run by ActivLives and supported by Ipswich Borough Council, is aimed at getting more of us active and it seems to be working!
Kurling is just one of the many inclusive sports activities on the ‘Everyday Activ’ programme!
“We already have a variety of activities on our weekly programme including walking football, boccia, new age kurling, ping pong, badminton and yoga”, said Mike McCarthy, from ActivLives. “The sessions are very sociable and great fun, that’s the whole point really, it’s the social element that keeps people coming back! Most, although not all, of the participants on the programme are over the age of 55, some are into their 70’s and 80’s. It really is brilliant to see.”
The new sessions, which will all be starting in November in Ipswich, include a new kurling group, an additional yoga class for beginners and an exercise class with a difference.
If you would like to find out more about the ‘Everyday Activ’ programme and how you can get involved, please contact ActivLives on 01473 345350, email mike@activlives.org.uk or visit the website at www.activlives.org.uk
Oct 12, 2018 | ActivSports
The 40 participants competed in a variety of adapted sports including kurling, boccia, badminton, short-mat bowls, petanque, short tennis and table tennis. “By ‘adapted sports’ we mean sports, or versions of sports, that have been changed to make them more accessible to a wider range of people”, explained Mike McCarthy, Everyday Activ-Ipswich Project Manager. “The ActivLives ‘Everyday Activ’ programme, is all about making it possible for more people to get involved in sport and physical activity, even those who think that sport isn’t for them.”
“The Games have been a great success, with a lovely atmosphere created by the participants, who really got into the spirit of things.”
ActivLives would like to thank all of the participants and particularly the great volunteers who helped to make this event happen.
The Everyday Activ-Ipswich initiative is an ActivLives programme which is a partnership with Ipswich Borough Council. New sessions are about to be added to the autumn programme including kurling, yoga and low impact exercise and games.
If you would like to find out more about the Everyday Activ sessions and how to get involved, please contact ActivLives on 01473 345350 or email at mike@activlives.org.uk
Jan 16, 2018 | ActivSuffolk
On Thursday 11th January, Julie Stokes, ActivLives CEO, presented members with their own New Age Kurling Kits, funded by SCC Councillor Matthew Hicks and Suffolk Community Foundation Suffolk Rural Fund. The two kits include Kurling Stones, pushers and target mats.
Julie Stokes said, “It’s fantastic to see that Debenham ActivHub is growing and that members now have their own New Age Kurling kits to use every Thursday. This is a fun inclusive sport, which anyone, of any ability can take part in. It can be done standing, sitting and from a wheelchair and the group is also a great way to socialise and meet and make new friends.’
If you are 50 plus and want to get out and brush off the winter blues, then why not join the group and have a go. Members meet every Thursday at the Debenham Community Centre, Gracechurch Street from 2pm – 4pm. The session costs £4.50 and this includes refreshments. It’s a great fun game, creates lots of laughter and certainly brings out the competiveness in people. Glenn Bartholomew is the qualified ActivLives facilitator, who attends alternate weeks to support and introduce new members to the group and the activity. There is always time-out for a cup of tea / coffee and a chat.
New Age Kurling is a new form of the original curling game, but has been adapted so that it can be played indoors on any smooth, flat surface rather than on ice. It is a sport that requires participants to deliver ‘stones’ from one end of the court to a target at the other end of the court, either with the help of a pusher or by hand. The target has red,white and blue concentric circles and scoring is determined by the number of stones closest to the centre of this target. To ‘spice’ things up there are different types of targets, various games you can play, you can even play Kurling Golf.
The ActivHub is also invited to take part in competitions with other Kurling groups in Ipswich and other ActivLives Hubs in Eye, Stowmarket and Lakenheath.
The ActivHub is open to people living in Debenham and surrounding villages. If you would like to attend then please contact ActivLives main office on 01473 345350. If you need help with transport then please let us know and we will do our best to find a volunteer driver or member to get you there.
Sep 29, 2017 | ActivSports
An article from the Ipswich Star:
ActivIpswich was formed three years ago with the express purpose of reaching those aged 45 and above who did not regularly take part in sport or activities, and provide a relaxed, sociable environment in which they could meet new people and do some physical activity.
Run by ActivLives in partnership with Ipswich Borough Council, the project was boosted by funding from Sport England through the National Lottery.
The ActivIpswich bowls session at the CRESS Pavilion in Ipswich.
Sophie Barber, from ActivLives, said: “We try to hold all of our sessions in spacious, accessible venues that are on main bus routes around Ipswich.
“The sessions are great fun and everyone is always so welcoming to new participants.
Contestants from different ActivIpswich clubs compete in the semi-finals of the ActivLives Kurling Competition at Whitton Sports Centre.
“We are all very proud to have achieved the 25,000 mark so quickly.
“It shows what a demand there is out there for this type of programme.”
The news comes as ActivIpswich unveils its latest programme of activities for the Autumn months, with kurling, boccia, bowls, archery, badminton, ping pong and short tennis among the sports on offer.
The inclusive sessions can be played by wheelchair users and those with limited mobility or fitness.
Participants do not need any experience of the sports and activities.
Ms Barber added: “All of these groups are informal and social.
“We provide everything you need, all you have to do is turn up, enjoy the activity, meet new people and have fun.”
To help give people a taster of what to expect, a series of special events have been organised, including an archery and golf taster and a kurling competition, both in October, the ActivLives Community Games in November and the ActivPentathlon throughout the Autumn.
The ActivPentathlon launched earlier this year featured activities launched for the first time, including gymnastics, archery, multi-sports and swimming.
To find out more about what is on offer and to get involved with the initiative, call ActivIpswich on 01473 345350.
