International Day of Older People – How the Trust can support you

Today we celebrate the integral role of older people in our communities through International Day of Older People, an occasion marked every year on October 1st.

We are proud to support the most vulnerable members of our community, and remove barriers to participation, as we fulfil our vision to provide opportunities to all people by inspiring and empowering them through sport.

During the 2023/24 season we provided:

Over 300 community sessions combatting loneliness and isolation
183 hours of tailored sessions delivered to 137 elderly people living in nursing homes to help them get active
Supportive sessions for over 100 people of retirement age through our initiatives that are dedicated to tackling loneliness and social isolation.

You can find out more about our work with older people, and our work across the 2023/24 season, in our Impact Report https://argylecommunitytrust.co.uk/an-award-winning-year-argyle-community-trust-release-2023-24-impact-report/.

We provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive space to help reduce isolation and increase activity levels through dedicated programmes:

Extra Time Hub

Wednesdays | 1.45-3.45pm | William Sutton Memorial Hall | first session free then £2 per session – turn up and pay/play | Over 50s

Delivered in partnership with Elder Tree Befriending Service, this is an inclusive session which encourages people of retirement age to get out into the community, socialise, and become more physically active. A range of activities are provided including seated exercise, singing, table tennis, bowls, and quizzes as well as lots of opportunity for social interaction.

Walking Football

Mondays | 5-7pm | Manadon Sport Hub | first session free then £5 per session – turn up and pay/play | Men and Women over 50

Wednesdays | 9.30-11am | Manadon Sport Hub | first session free then £4 – turn up and pay/play | Men and Women over 50

Sundays | 5.30-7pm | Saltmill, Saltash | first session free then £4 per session – – turn up and pay/play | Women over 40

Walking Football is ideal for anyone over 40 or 50 years old who would like a gentle reintroduction to football and physical activity or who want to improve their fitness. The sessions are split into 20-minute games so participants can do as much, or as little, as they feel appropriate.

Our participants are made to feel welcome, and the groups have developed long-lasting friendships. You can be as competitive as you like, with some players going on to represent Plymouth Argyle in regional, national, and international tournaments.

Dementia Football Café

Fridays | 1.30-4pm | Tothill Community Centre | Invite via referral through Elder Tree Befriending Service

Delivered in partnership with Elder Tree Befriending Service, this session will provide people diagnosed with dementia with an opportunity to engage in various physical, social, and reminiscent activities which help exercise the brain. A space is also provided for partners and or carers to gai respite and give each other support and advice.

Walk and Talk

Tuesdays | 10.30am-12.30pm | Central Park | FREE, no need to book

Our Walk and Talk session aims to reduce isolation and increase activity levels amongst older people. We meet outside Plymouth Life Centre just before 10.30am with refreshments provided after the walk.

Compassionate Café

Tuesdays | 10.30am-12.30pm | Central Park Hub | FREE, no need to book

Our Compassionate Café runs alongside the Walk and Talk and is delivered in partnership with St. Luke’s Hospice. It is a community-led movement run by Compassionate Friends to reach out to members of the community that are experiencing loss, bereavement, or maybe affected by life limiting illness themselves.

If anyone feels as though they need someone to talk to, they can sit down and chat over a cup of tea and cake. Compassionate Friends aren’t there to give official advice, but they are there to offer support, company, and to lend a friendly ear.