Games fun to keep people on the move
MORE than 150 older and disabled people took part in a series of sporting activities in Bridgend as part of the local authority’s annual OlympAge Games.
The event saw teams from community groups, care settings and day centres across the county come together with teams from Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr Tydfil.
They competed in a range of gentle games and activities, including indoor bowling, curling, table tennis and basketball.
More than 50 Bridgend College health and social care students and young leaders from secondary schools were on hand to support those taking part.
Organised by Bridgend County Borough Council’s social services and wellbeing department in partnership with Bridgend College and Sport Wales, the games aim to develop age-friendly communities and recognise the health and wellbeing benefits of encouraging older people to move more often.
On the day, a new wellbeing hub at the Bridgend Life Centre was also officially opened by the chairman of Cwm Taf
Morgannwg Health Board Professor Marcus Longley and the mayor Stuart Baldwin.
The new hub, which is in partnership with Halo Leisure, contains employability support, exercise referral and community opportunities.
Cllr Baldwin said: “This hub and other facilities and services will have the potential to add significant value to the co-located health services that will be available nearby. This project presents a great collaborative model of how things can work across health, social care, third sector and communities.”
He added: “By encouraging people to move more often and socialise more, we aim to improve both the physical and mental wellbeing of older people in our communities and also take crucial steps to tackling loneliness and isolation.”
A new programme called Super-Agers aims to develop sustainable community physical activity opportunities for older people, through developing and engaging community volunteers.
The Bridgend wellbeing hub has been supported by Welsh Government’s Integrated Care Fund.