We are opening our doors to the local community and inviting Cheltenham’s older people to get fit and active from next month (November 2015).

Springfield House, located on Pilgrove Way in Cheltenham, is hosting a new six week programme of fitness groups for older people starting on Thursday 5 November running up until Christmas.

The mission behind ‘Move it or Lose it’ is to transform the health and wellbeing of our nation’s older adults. By encouraging active ageing, the group aims to also combat loneliness and isolation.

The programme is made up for safe and enjoyable exercise sessions tailored to older people’s mobility needs making the fitness routines effective and accessible to everyone. The fitness group helps its attendees become stronger, fitter and more confident.

Denise Pittaway, Team Leader, said: “We are delighted to host the ‘Move it or Lose it’ fitness group at the atrium at Springfield House every Thursday from 10.30am until 11.30am starting next month. The group is open to those who live at Springfield House centre as well as the local community.

“We held a couple of trail sessions of ‘Move it or Lose it’ at Springfield House earlier this autumn and had some great feedback from attendees.”

Val Berry, who lives at Springfield House, said: “I really enjoyed the class and I feel I am benefitting from the exercise and I would encourage everyone to give it a try!”

Practising nurse, Kathy Chesters, who leads the fitness group and champions good health and wellbeing amongst older people in the local community, said: “The aim of our Move it or Lose it chair based exercise programme is to improve upper and lower body strength and improve functional movement and mobility. As well as this, the group aims to improve confidence and self-efficacy and provides an opportunity for people to socialise. It’s a safe environment with a focus on having fun.”

The group is supported by Gloucestershire County Council’s Active Together Grant. The group is free of charge for attendees who live at Springfield House and costs £4 per person per class for those joining from the local community. 

Councillor Suzanne Williams, who joined in on one of the recent fitness taster sessions at Springfield House, said: “I really enjoyed the session. Many of us lead more sedentary lives these days and Move it or Lose it is great to help us get moving again.”

With figures showing that the over 65s will account for almost 60 percent of the increase in households by 2033, last month we launched a rebrand of its sheltered housing into Riverside Retirement Living, focusing on providing safe, affordable and contemporary housing as part of a £27million four-year investment programme.

Our Executive Director of Care and Support Leann Hearne is championing a fresh approach to retirement housing for the 50 plus generation who want great homes, with the added support that retirement living brings when provided by social landlords like Riverside.

“When I am looking for a place to stay I want a choice of contemporary design, great facilities and an option of onsite social activities, like Move it or Lose it classes at Springfield House, and at a rate that doesn’t break the bank,” said Leann. “These are exactly the things that people look for when they are thinking about moving from their current family homes into retirement housing and this is what social landlords should be delivering.”

For more about ‘Move it or Lose it’ at Springfield House, and how to book a place, please contact Riverside Support Worker Catharine Montgomery on 01242 574245 or email [email protected].