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Keeping active
A three year Active Ageing programme is hosted by the Quality of Life Partnership. Funded by the Big Lottery’s New Leaf New Life Public Health Consortium, this aims to increase the mental wellbeing of and the level of participation in physical activity of people aged 50+ in Newcastle.
50+ Heritage Walks
Starting from 20th April 2010, Newcastle's very own City Guides will be launching a series of walks throughout the city covering areas such as:
- local history
- art
- architecture
- nature
- story telling
They will run every Tuesday morning from 10.30am with each walk costing £2.50 per person.
Click here to download a copy of the 50+ Hertitage Walks 2010 information, pick up a copy at the Tourist Information Centre, Market Street, Newcastle, or call them on (0191) 277 8003.
City Centre Health Walks
Working in partnership with Ground Work South Tyneside and Newcastle, these hour long health walks are perfect for beginners and/or people wanting a brisk stroll with an opportunity to socialise with others.
Following six main routes:
- Leazes Park
- Exhibition Park
- The Quayside
- The Riverside
- Ouseburn
- The Castle Keep
All sessions are led by qualified walk leaders.
Each walk costs £1 and starts at 1pm every Thursday from Grey's Monument. No booking is required, just turn up at the meeting point.
For further information about City Centre Health Walks, please contact Fred Baines, Groundworks on 07734193003 or email fred.baines@groundworks.org.uk.
Nordic walking programme
Ever seen people walking around with what looks like two skis? Well, this is called Nordic Walking and it was developed by cross-country skiers as a method of training in the summer months.
Using the poles to propel your body forward, you will find this activity is very stable, even on uneven ground, uses more muscles and burns 46% more calories than normal walking. And it’s a fun way of combining fresh air, physical activity and meeting new people!
Fancy a try?
Working in partnership with HealthWORKS we run several four-week introductory programmes throughout the year.
For further information about Nordic Walking, or to book a place, please contact Wendy Whitfield, HealthWORKS Newcastle on (0191) 264 1959 or email wendy.whitfield@hwn.org.uk.
For information about other walking groups in the City, please see our section on Fitness.
Active Cycling Programme
Active Newcastle and Cycletrex are offering three cycle courses aimed at getting adults back in the saddle and on their bikes!
- Beginners Programme - This programme is designed for people who have never learned to cycle.
- Refreshers Programme - This programme is designed for people who have either progressed from the Beginners Programme or are returning to cycling and are looking to refresh their skills.
- Social Programme - This programme is designed for people from the Beginners and Refreshers Programmes to ride together as a group on organised rides. All welcome!
The cost of each session per person is £3.00 payable to the instructor at each venue, which contributes towards the bike hire, all safety equipment and the provision of a fully qualified cycling instructor.
For further details and costs, please contact Steve Lynn on 07833 573 191, email steve@cycletrex.com or visit the Active Newcastle website.
The Healthy Living Centre, MEA House
If none of the outdoor or pool based activities takes your fancy why not drop by the Healthy Living Centre and check out their wide range of courses on offer?
Described as a ‘hidden gem in the heart of the city’ the centre offers an extensive range of activities enabling people over 50 to learn new things, keep active, make new friends and, most of all, have fun.
Here you can choose from an array of IT, arts and music courses. Or dance yourself silly with tap, line, ballroom or salsa classes. Or if exercise is more your thing then join one of the many Keep Fit sessions (including yoga and pilates) and then recover in the company of friends in the award winning Healthy Living Centre Cafe.
All classes are pay as you go and range from £2 - £3.50.
You can download a copy of the Take Part brochure here, or telephone the number below for further details.
Please note that the programme is subject to occasional change. To ensure that the schedule times and details are still correct please ring the Healthy Living Centre Information Line on (0191) 235 9914.
Tutor Databank
The Tutor Databank is just one of several different programmes being developed by the Quality of Life Partnership via the New Leaf New Life Active Ageing Programme, as funded by the Big Lottery.
The databank is a new service for any older person wanting to hire a tutor to deliver an activity taster session and/or an activity programme to older people in Newcastle upon Tyne.
How does it work?
Simple. The Tutor Databank acts as an Information Service.
- Tutors register their services with us
- We check that they fulfil our databank requirements
- Once satisfied, we add the tutor to our databank
- You contact us asking for tutors in your chosen activity area
- We supply you with the contact details of up to three relevant tutors
- You contact the tutors directly and negotiate prices and service delivery terms
What are our service requirements?
In order to be included on the databank all tutors must:
- Complete a registration form
- Provide the names of two referees, both of which will be followed up
- Attend an interview in which they will receive information about the service
- Provide proof of their qualifications and relevant insurance
- Have substantial experience of working with older people, or show a real interest in working with older people
- Successfully undergo an Enhanced Criminal Records check
Please note that this is an information service only and not a recommendation of any individual tutor.
What subject areas are included?
Our tutors can undertake a wide variety of programmes including:
- Physical activity (Fitness, Dance, Tai Chi, Yoga)
- Alternative therapy (Massage, Reflexology, Shiatsu)
- Arts and crafts
- Local history
- Languages
- Information technology
If the work you would like carried out is not listed above, drop us a line anyway as we are regularly extending the scope of our databank.
What support is offered when using this service?
The service will provide ongoing support by:
- Responding to any questions or queries
- Monitoring and evaluating the service based on feedback from both customers and tutors
- Providing access to a complaints policy if any problems arise
How much does it cost to access the databank?
Nothing! This is a free service on offer to all older people and older people's organisations in Newcastle.
Information for tutors
If you are a tutor and you are interested in working with older people’s groups in Newcastle, contact us using the details given below, or read the
Tutor Databank – Service Information for Tutors.
How to contact us
For more information about how to access this service, contact Michelle Mordue, Active Ageing Development Worker, on telephone number 0191 255 1985, or email her at michelle.mordue@qualityoflife.org.uk.
Other useful information
You may also be interested to read the following sections on Information NOW:
