£200k canal funding aims to help over 55s get more active
RESIDENTS are encouraged to sign up for a pilot project which aims to encourage the over 55s to get more active.
The Canal & River Trust charity has been given £222,305 National Lottery funding from Sport England to help reduce the number of inactive older adults in Cheshire.
The Trust’s project, in partnership with Active Cheshire, aims to use the grant funding and the canal network to find new ways to encourage older people to get active on and alongside water.
In the first year, the Canal & River Trust will run pilot projects in Macclesfield and Winsford, and are looking for 12 active volunteers to develop a programme of activities.
Gillian Renshaw, development and engagement manager with the Canal and River Trust, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the Trust and older people in Cheshire.
“We know our canals already offer great opportunities for walkers, boaters, anglers, joggers and cyclists.
“This project will help us to understand their motivation and behaviour, and explore how we can encourage and better support them to enjoy the big outdoors.
“We want people to get outside, take in their environment, make friends while becoming more physically active and where better to do this than along our wonderful waterways.”
Mike Diaper, executive director at Sport England, said: “Being active is one of the most important things people can do to maintain health and wellbeing as they age.
“We’re delighted to be supporting the Canal & River Trust with National Lottery funding to help get older adults lead happier and heathier lives.
“We’ll be sharing learnings so successful approaches can be scaledup or replicated across the country.”
Sport England research shows that inactivity among people over 55 is responsible for just as many deaths as smoking.
In Cheshire and Warrington just over 40 per cent of the population (373,600 people) are over 55 and of these 53pc (199,502) do less than two and a half hours exercise a week.
Research from Active Cheshire shows the main reasons for inactivity are health (54pc), work and family commitments (26pc) and lack of interest (15pc).
Anyone in Cheshire, over 55, who would like to get involved with this project, please email gillian. renshaw@canalrivertrust. org.uk. For more information go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk or ring 0303 040 4040.