About Us

There are so may reasons to get active! Taking part in exercise can help with:

  • Weight loss / maintenance (if you would like to shift a few pounds)
  • Helps to reduce blood pressure (Exercise is great at reducing stress and helps to improve circulation)
  • Helps improve mood (Exercise releases a happy hormone which will help to prevent mood slumps)
  • Helps you to sleep better (plus have more energy in the day)
  • Helps with osteoporosis and arthritis (Want to get rid of those aches and pains)
  • Helps to prevent diabetes and is an ideal social opportunity.

The Forever Active programme has something for everyone, whether you are 50 or 100 and whether you are fit as a fiddle or haven’t taken part in exercise or sport since school. Its time to get active and stay Forever Active!

Forever Active Scheme

The Forever Active scheme provides exercise / activity sessions for the over 50 age group within Cambridge City. There are over 50 different sessions on offer, which cater for all ages and abilities.

Sessions range from chair based exercises, which are suitable for people with mobility problems, to activities for the active 50+. Please see the class information page for details.

The Forever Active Scheme started in June 2005. In May 2007 the group became a constituted organisation with a community bank account.

The group is a voluntary, non-profit making organisation, which relies on external grants and sponsorship support to run the programme of activities. You can download the following documents:

Each month there are over 1000 attendances at the different sessions, which are taking place at different sport and community centres and currently over 500 people are registered on the Forever Active database.

Anyone over the age of 50 is able to attend the sessions and there is the option of becoming a Forever Active member for £10.00 per year. Members receive priority booking.

The scheme provides a social element to all of the classes so the sessions are an ideal opportunity to meet new people in a fun and welcoming environment. The scheme aims to offer sessions at a subsidised rate and is non-profit making.

Forever Active works closely with the following organisations:

  • Cambridge City Council (CCC) Sports Development Service. A Sports Development Officer supports the work of the group on a part time basis as the Forever Active Coordinator.
  • CCC Exercise Referral Scheme. Many exercise referral clients attend the Forever Active sessions after their referral programme
  • Cambridge Falls Prevention Service. If Instructors identify a participant who has fallen or who they think is at risk of falling the falls prevention service are informed. The Falls Prevention service refers clients onto the Forever Active chair based sessions.
  • Cambridge Older People’s Enterprise (COPE) – Help with the delivery of brochures as well as including Forever Active articles in their monthly newsletter
  • Community Centres – Encouraging the local Community Centres to set up sports sessions for the scheme
  • Sports Clubs – Encouraging local Sports Clubs to set up sports sessions for the scheme
  • Forever Active sessions are promoted within the Cambridge City / South Cambridgeshire.
  • Forever Active is a member of the organisation Attend

Forever Active is evaluated thoroughly every year. Participants are asked to complete a questionnaire detailing their thoughts on the service.

Questions established whether or not the participant has seen an improvement in his / her health. The Forum uses the feedback to help improve the service provided.

The Forum also holds meetings every 3 – 4 months to gain feedback on the scheme and to plan for the future. If you would like to attend a Forum meeting, please contact the Forever Active Coordinator.

National Guidelines - How much exercise should I be doing?

For general health benefits, adults of all ages should achieve a total of at least 30 minutes of moderate activity a day on five or more days of the week.

‘Moderate’ activity means any activity that leaves you feeling warm and breathing more heavily than usual. But you don’t have to be completely out of breath or work up a sweat.

Also, specific activities that help improve strength, co-ordination and balance are particularly beneficial for us, as we get older.

Why 30 minutes?
Any increase in activity will benefit your health, but research shows that 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on five or more days of the week is the amount needed to keep the lungs, heart, muscles and bones in good working order.

You can split the 30 minutes up into two bouts of 15 minutes or three bouts of 10 minutes.

If you would like to speak to someone in person about the scheme, please contact Helen Johnston, Forever Active Coordinator.

HAPPY EXERCISING!

Forver Active Forums

The Forever Active forum holds meeting quarterly, to discuss ways to improve the group. You can download the previous meetings minutes: