Residents in a Nottingham City Homes (NCH) independent living scheme have been training with a group of seven to eight year olds to help them get active this summer.
Strelley ABC (Amateur Boxing Club) has teamed up with NCH to run a four week course with the residents of Mariner Court in Bulwell, teaching residents basic boxing skills to aid fitness and improve balance.
Nottingham City Council secured funding from Sport England earlier this year that has enabled NCH to offer these sessions to residents over the summer.
The sessions focus on teaching residents a range of moves and stances. It aims to not only get older people moving, but help them with things like balance, which could help to prevent falls during their day to day activities.
All residents can join in and get active, whatever their level of ability. The club has tailored the sessions so there will be focus on exercises and moves that can be done from a chair and activities that involve a bit more movement for those who are more able.
The sessions are being run by Gary Bulmer, who runs Strelley ABC, and during the first session, a small group of five to six year old children, who attend the boxing club regularly, joined Gary to teach the residents some moves.
Gary said: “The sessions we’re running at Mariner Court are really good fun for the residents and the children were really excited to be getting involved. It will hopefully get the tenants moving and improve their activity levels, while having a bit of fun at the same time.
“The moves we’re teaching them are moves that will improve their balance and it’s great to think this could help to prevent falls. We may even look at giving the residents their own boxing names and entrance music.”
Goran Selby, one of the activity coordinators at NCH, said: “When the funding was secured from Sport England, we thought it would be a really nice way of using the money.
“Finding an activity for younger and older people to do as a group is a really positive way of bringing communities together. Having the children helping to teach the residents during their first session was so rewarding for them. We even had a few tears from some of the residents who couldn’t believe how much fun they’d had, and what a positive impact it had had on them to meet the children and spend some time with them.”
It is hoped the sessions may be extended beyond the first pilot project, if it proves to be a success.
