Over fifties are fit for fun

Sport doesn’t have to be strenuous to help you keep fit – that’s the message from the Kilmarsh Parish Council where a walking club and a ‘fit4fun’ activity session for Over 50s are popular features of their sports centre programme.

Sport England made grants of Lottery cash totalling over £2.2m towards the cost of developing the existing facilities at the centre with a view to making them more accessible to the local community.

The new and refurbished facilities included a sports hall with five courts, a fitness suite, multi-use games area, small and large ATP, club room and a crèche.

An after school club, playgroup and a crèche are on the site which is now a focus for local residents who want to take part in sport and physical activity.

Kilmarsh Parish Council Sports Centre factfile:

• Use of the centre has increased from 38,480 to 94,316 every year helping Sport England towards its target of increasing participation by 1% a year up to 2020
• 27% of users are under 18 and 31% of all users are female
• 5 new jobs have been created as a result of this facility
• Coaching hours for the under 18 have increased from 12 to 38 hours a week
• The number of adult coaching hours has increased from 16 to 35 a week
• The centre provides a base for sports clubs in badminton, netball, gymnastics, martial arts, basketball, football, short mat bowls and skater hockey
• There are more than 30 qualifies coaches operating at the centre
• A partnership has been set up with the PCT to establish a ‘healthy living centre

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To find out more about the Everyday Sport campaign, for activities taking place in your area and simple tips on how to get active, log onto www.everydaysport.com or call the Everyday Sport hotline: 0800 587 6000.