Local Activities

In March 2022 we asked:

“If you had the choice, what activities would you like to be on offer in your local area?” 

In March we explored which activities older people across Gloucestershire would like to see in their local area. We were able to speak to 40 people on this topic and managed to gather a selection of ideas for activities. Alongside this we also received helpful insights into the benefits and barriers older people believe are in place when it comes to joining activities within their community.

Many people appeared to have a general appetite for getting involved with more activities in the community as well as an awareness of the benefits this can have for themselves and others.

‘Getting older can lead to feeling more isolated and detached from society, interacting with others during activities can help reduce the loneliness you may experience’.

The desires people had for the structure of any new activities showed a difference in how people may want to approach interacting with their communities.

‘I would really appreciate a space to be able to socialise with others without necessarily having a planned selection of events, just a meet up’.

‘I prefer focused activities and events, something more organised with things for people to do rather than just for the sake of socialising. This would give me more desire to attend as there would be less pressure on those attending’.

‘I appreciate when there is time at the end of an activity to socialise, tea and cake at the end of an event can allow for people to linger and chat which I really enjoy’.

Looking at the specifics of activities people would like to see, there was a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

‘I love craft activities, visiting the theatre and dancing, as long as there is options for those without a partner’.

‘Days out visiting attractions or new towns is always enjoyable, as well as being great exercise’.

‘Games like Scrabble and table tennis are good fun’.

‘Attending the gym with a group of people of a similar age can make the experience a lot more enjoyable’.

‘Gardening groups could be a great one, a hobby I love doing alone but would happily share with others’.

When looking at physical activities, there was a consideration of different levels of interaction and difficulty being required.

‘Walking groups within the towns can help with accessibility for those in wheelchairs, allowing more people to get together’.

‘Walking groups can allow for a mix of people to get together, some enjoy chatting and others just enjoy the company when walking out and about, they suit all kinds of people’.

Alongside these ideas came some feelings surrounding barriers to these kinds of activities. Some mentioned transport issues as a reason behind their lack of attendance or worry over the future.

‘When you become reliant on walking aids or no longer drive it can become difficult to see yourself going further than a few steps’.

‘Community activities often rely on transport, this can be hard to organise and so attending seems a lot less likely’.

‘I feel comfortable attending things currently as I can drive, but I do worry about my future when I can no longer use my car’.

Others saw declining personal health as a reason for not starting or having to stop attending activities.

‘My sight declining has meant I can’t partake in as many activities as I used to’.

‘Some activities we used to do relied on a lot of walking, we don’t feel up to this anymore so opt for easier outings’.

‘COVID forced me to slow down and now it feels hard to get back going again’.

Overall it would appear that rather than feeling the need for specific activities in the community, ensuring opportunities are accessible is hugely important. People appreciate the benefits of meaningful interaction but feel this can be affected heavily by lack of transport or personal health changes, which raises fears of isolation. The importance of ensuring differing levels of intensity or ability for activities would also appear to open up activities to more people, or keep people included for longer.

If you’d like to get more involved with your local community why not visit one of our Springboard Social Groups near you or if would like more information about other activities in your area call our Help Team on 01452 422660 and press option 1.

If you are keen to start something new local to you, our Community Engagement team would love to hear from you.  We can give you advice and support and link you to other people and organisations who can help.  Call Chris Walker on 07511 225435 to discuss your ideas.

We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please join the conversation by emailing us at: conversations@ageukgloucestershire.org.uk or by calling 01452 422660.