De Lacy Gardens celebrates movement at inclusive event

Residents and colleagues at De Lacy Gardens Extra Care scheme in Pontefract got active together with an inclusive event last week filled with fun and accessible fitness activities.

The day included a boccia/curling challenge, mindfulness sessions, a Be Active chair-based exercise and even some bhangra dancing!  Guests from Age UK Wakefield and students from New College also joined in showing that intergenerational activities can make keeping fit even more enjoyable.

Our new research reveals that if your new year’s fitness resolutions have slipped, now is the perfect time to reset your goals. 60% of people in Yorkshire and Humberside feel more motivated to get active during the spring and summer months and encouragingly, 74% wish they were more physically active.

In response, we have been encouraging residents and colleagues across the country to engage in fun and accessible physical activities to boost their wellbeing and are encouraging the nation to get active this spring.

With our research finding that 43% of people in Yorkshire and Humberside plan to spend Easter with loved ones and that 37% would prefer to be active with others, Easter weekend could be the perfect time to get moving with loved ones. Whether it’s going for a short walk with friends and family, doing some gardening, or Easter egg hunts, spring provides more opportunities to get outdoors and get moving as the weather warms up.

Alongside the fun and inclusive fitness events at De Lacy Gardens, residents and colleagues have clocked up an impressive 1,397 hours of activity during March as part of our successful #MoveIntoMarch initiative. 

Our research highlights how physical activity and wellbeing go hand in hand, as 72% of people in Yorkshire and Humberside feel better when they’ve spent time being active during the day. In later life, over half (51%) of people in Yorkshire and Humberside say being active brings them joy and 70% say it benefits their mental wellbeing. With recent research revealing how exercising just once a month can reduce the risk of dementia , the benefits of being active extend far beyond day-to-day wellbeing.

At the event, residents of De Lacy Gardens Extra Care scheme were also able to find out about the range of wellbeing services we offer to residents. This includes our Be Active wellness and movement programme, Be Digital service which supports residents to get and feel confident online, Be Skilled programme which offers online trainings, Be Connected which helps residents connect with each other, and Be Wise financial inclusion service. 

Mervyn Millington, Manager at De Lacy Gardens Extra Care scheme, said:

Supporting our residents to enjoy living in later life is something we champion here at Anchor and as part of this, we encourage residents to engage in physical activities. It was great to have everyone come together for a fun filled day to boost physical and mental wellbeing! 

There are so many ways to be active, especially in the warmer weather, and we hope people from across the area will join in and get moving!

Get involved by posting pictures of you being active on Twitter and tagging @AnchorLaterLife so we can see what you get up to!

For inspiration look at the hashtag #MoveIntoMarch or visit here to see how residents and colleagues have been getting moving.