Everyone Active, which operates seven leisure centres in partnership with Westminster City Council – is inviting local residents aged 65+ to enjoy free gym and swimming sessions at any of its Westminster sites from Monday October 28^th to Friday November 1^st in a bid to encourage them to boost their activity levels.

The sites taking part include: Porchester Centre (W2), Marshall Street (W1), Queen Mother Sports Centre (SW1), Little Venice Sports Centre (W2), Seymour Leisure Centre (W1), Moberly Sports Centre (NW10) and Paddington Recreation Ground (W9).  Non-members aged 65+ will have complimentary access to the gym between 10am and 4pm each day and are also invited to take part in Senior Swim sessions for free. 

This offer is in response to Everyone Active research that shows more than 78% of over-65s are not achieving the amount of weekly activity advised by the NHS, which includes 150 minutes of aerobic exercise and two days of strength exercise**.

The national Everyone Active ‘Age Is Just A Number’ campaign seeks to engage older people in the Westminster area in exercise.  As well as offering a week’s free access to the Westminster leisure centres, Everyone Active is searching for a ‘face of older people’s activity’ and inviting people to nominate themselves, their family or friends to take part.  For more information or to make a nomination, visit www.everyoneactive.com/AgeIsJustANumber.

Cllr Iain Bott, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Sports, Culture and Community said: “Westminster’s leisure centres are excellent places to get fit whatever your age, with year-round free swimming and heavily discounted classes for residents who are over 60 it couldn’t be easier.  As well as getting fit our centres are hubs for social interaction and a great place to make new friends.”

Councillor Heather Acton, Cabinet Member for Family Services and Public Health, said: “We already run specific programmes for older people living with dementia such as our recent dementia bikes scheme that saw some of our care home residents take part in a race against 200 teams from around the world. Exercise brings many social and health benefits for older people, so we would encourage everyone to visit their local leisure centre to take up an activity that they can enjoy.”