Physical activity: Stay strong and steady

Age UK Oxfordshire
9 Napier Court
Barton Lane
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14 3YT
United Kingdom

Email: active@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk
Telephone: 01235 849403

We can support you in maintaining health, mobility and independence. Stay Strong and Steady, our falls prevention exercise and information programme is designed for older people who are concerned about their balance.

Introduction to our Stay Strong and Steady programme

Being worried about falling or having experienced a fall can stop people keeping active and doing things that they enjoy. We want to help people keep moving so that they can maintain health, mobility and confidence and stay independent.

This free introductory exercise and information programme is designed specifically for people who are concerned about their balance.

If you’re worried about your balance, then ‘Stay Strong and Steady’ can help you regain confidence and stability. By taking part you’ll benefit from a range of evidence-based falls prevention exercises delivered by trained specialists, either in-person at local community classes or online at home via Zoom. We will focus on your needs to identify the right option at the right time for you

What the sessions involve

All options will provide strength and resistance exercises, which are beneficial for bone and joint health and help to make everyday tasks easier, and balance exercises, which help to reduce the risk of falls and improve posture. You’ll also benefit from general information and discussion to support you to remain strong and steady on your feet. Tutors will share activities and exercises for you to do in your own time at home.

A personalised plan will be provided so you can maintain progress and activity levels once you have graduated from ‘Stay Strong and Steady’, and we’ll discuss the options to continue exercising after the initial 12-week programme.

‘Stay Strong and Steady’ will be delivered by our physical activity team, with support from the team at Move Together (from Active Oxfordshire and the district councils).

When the programme is available

The next set of Stay Strong and Steady programmes are taking place:

• Abingdon at Preston Road Community Centre on Thursdays 11.30-12.45pm. The next course will begin 26th September.

• Banbury at Grimsbury Community Centre on Tuesdays 2.30-3.45pm. The next course will begin 17th September.

• Bicester Methodist Church, Bell Lane Mondays 1.30-2.45pm. The next course will start 16th September.

• Chipping Norton at Chipping Norton Town Hall on Thursdays 2:30-3:45pm. The next course will start 19th September.

• Didcot at Didcot Civic Hall on Wednesdays 2.00-3.15pm. The next course will start 25th September.

• Littlemore (City South) at Littlemore Community Centre on Tuesdays 11:30-12:45pm. The next course will start 24th September 2024.

Our wider physical activity offer

We also offer a range of other exercise classes:

Strength and Balance (to maintain health, mobility and independence)

Big, Bold and Balance (for those living with Parkinson’s disease)

Seated Exercise (for those who are more comfortable seated)

In addition to our exercise classes, we offer videos which enable you to exercise at a time that is convenient for you. These videos can be accessed via our YouTube channel or as DVDs which we can provide free of charge. Visit our YouTube channel using the link below or contact us on the details at the top of the page to request a DVD.

Visit our Youtube channel.

Could you support us as a volunteer?

Volunteering at our physical activity classes would include supporting the exercise tutor to welcome and register participants, handling cases and helping create a friendly and sociable environment. Find out more below.

Find out more about becoming a Physical Activity Volunteer here.