Moving More Often" is key to good health

11.47.23am GMT Wed 9th Nov 2005

Getting moving

Cllr Dennis Hullock, Liberal Democrat Member for Dewsbury East and Cabinet member for Health & Social Services, has put his support behind an exercise programme that will improve the quality of life for older people in Kirklees.

The "Moving More Often" programme is being led nationally by the British Heart Foundation for physical activity & health at Loughborough University but is being piloted locally as a joint project run between Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing and the Council's Culture & Leisure Service.

The programme involves 30 locally based scheme co-ordinators from Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing being trained in "low level armchair exercises". The scheme co-ordinators will then set up weekly exercise classes at the 19 Granges and 3 community centres throughout Kirklees.

Cllr Dennis Hullock says: "Research in Kirklees show that 50% of older people over 65 years of age are inactive. Inactivity of this type can lead to all sorts of health problems including high blood pressure, heart attacks and diabetes as well as a general loss of strength and mobility. Taking even a modest amount of regular exercise can help older people in Kirklees avoid these types of health problems and ensure that they have the best possible chance of maintaining their independence and dignity."

The weekly classes that could be held across Kirklees are not restricted to just Council tenants. Residents living in and around the Granges and Community Centres would also be encouraged to participate.

Cllr Hullock, who also has responsibility for the Housing portfolio for Dewsbury Area Committee, says: "A lot of older people living in Kirklees live alone and some, sadly, have very little contact with people outside of their immediate families or their carers. Spending long periods of time alone can bring about its own health problems, including anxiety and depression. The Moving More Often programme would give older people in Kirklees the chance to get out and meet people of around the same age while improving their health, so there is a very important social role that this scheme could play in our communities."

To get the word out into the communities, leaflets could be delivered to doctor's surgeries, health centres and other information points, such as libraries and local churches.

The Council's Culture and Leisure Service have already set up pilots of the programme in Dewsbury while partnership groups involved have started running sessions in Chickenly, Earlsheaton and Batley.

At their meeting on the 26th October, Dewsbury Area Committee Members encouraged Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing and the Council's Culture and Leisure Service to put in request for funding at a future meeting.