Live Longer Better Network News – Issue No.18 June 2026
Introduction
Welcome to the June edition of the Live Longer Better Network News, which features a selection of articles, including celebration events for Armed Forces Day, Active Ageing Activities and the launch of the Age UK Act Now, Age Better campaign.
Thank you for being a network member and helping to promote physical, cognitive and emotional activity for the over 55’s to support their overall wellbeing and healthy lifespan. Please share the Network News with your friends, colleagues and other organisations. They can also subscribe to our mailing list to receive future editions of the network news straight to their inbox.
Live Longer Better Celebration Event
Thank you to everyone who attended the Live Longer Better Network 5 Year Celebration event on 29 April 2026 at the Stour Centre, Ashford. It was a great opportunity for members to meet in-person and hear from our guest speakers, Benna McInally, Public Health Specialist at Kent County Council, who talked about Age-Friendly Communities and Jon Lambert from Hi Kent, discussing deaf awareness and how to support people with hearing loss. Alongside this, Elise Rendall, our Strategic Lead for Health and Physical Activity spoke about the newly launched Forever Active Kent Service and Patrick McGahren, our Place Project Officer, shared updates on the Place Partnerships work going on across the county. Our short film captures highlights from the celebratory event.
Active Kent & Medway Conference
SAVE THE DATE: We are delighted to announce that the 2026 Active Kent & Medway Conference will take place on Tuesday 13 October 2026, from 9:30 to 15:30 at the Kent Event Centre, Detling, Kent, ME14 3JF. Bookings will open in September and you will receive an email to register, but please save the date and add to your calendar.
Our keynote speaker will be Andy Taylor (CEO, Active Partnerships National Organsisation). You will also hear from representatives across the sport, physical activity and health sectors as they take part in a Q&A session. There will be a choice of short briefing sessions, as well as the opportunity to network with other delegates. We do hope you can join us on 13 October 2026.
Act Now, Age Better
Age UK have recently launched The Act Now, Age Better Campaign to get people thinking, talking and taking actions that are going to help them in the years to come. The campaign has brought the world of sport, physical activity and movement together to help people move towards a stronger and healthier later life. There’s an Inspiration Hub to explore real people’s stories and you can see how to get involved, whether that’s getting out in the great outdoors, participating in a team sport or sports for those with long term health conditions or disabilities.
Armed Forces Day Celebrations
Celebrate Armed Forces Day in Kent and Medway to honour the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, both past and present.
- Sat 27 June 2026: The Historic Dockyard Chatham is hosting a FREE special event featuring family-friendly activities, spectacular military displays and live music and performances. (Photo credit: Visit Medway).
Follow this link to find out more
- Sun 5 July 2026: Julie Rose Stadium in Kennington (Ashford) is hosting a FREE, inclusive event to honour service, strengthen community connections and promote local support services available to the Armed Forces Community (incl RBL and SSAFA). The stadium will host family activities, veteran’s walking football, cadet demonstrations, community performances and wellbeing workshops.
Active Ageing Activities
Over 55’s Wellbeing Activities (Thanet)
Your Leisure is pleased to introduce a wide range of exciting courses, taking place in leisure centres in Hartsdown, Ramsgate and Margate. The 7-week courses start from £3 per session and include Good Boost Aqua, Dance, Pickleball, Seated Exercise, Nordic Walking, FunFit, Swim 4 Confidence, Yoga and Aero, Stretch and Tone.
Sporting Memories Clubs
New Sporting Memories Clubs have been launched at Freedom Leisure Centres in Maidstone and Tenterden. The clubs are ideal for those aged 50+ who would like to make friendships in the local area, enjoy conversations about sport and local sporting history and take part in fun and inclusive activities. Please contact the leisure centres to find out more about joining or volunteering at the clubs:
- Tenterden – Email: tenterden@freedom-leisure.co.uk or Tel: 01580 475 014
- Maidstone – Email: maidstoneenquiries@freedom-leisure.co.uk or Tel: 01622 681 987
Follow this link to find out more
Sporting Memory Clubs also take place in Marden, Strood, Meopham, Hermitage Park in Maidstone.
Forever Active Kent Service
Coordinated by Kent County Council and Active Kent & Medway, the Forever Active Kent Service helps older adults, aged 50 and older, to increase and maintain their strength, flexibility, balance and coordination in a place and time that suits them. As part of this service, a number of local organisations and community groups have been supported to offer FREE activity programmes from 1 April 2026 for people aged 50+ in their local community.
Follow this link to discover the free activity programmes across Kent
Virtual Village Hall
The Virtual Village Hall community and activity hub has been designed by the Royal Voluntary Service. It supports people to stay mentally and physically active and socially connected. It is open to everyone and is used by health and social care professionals too. No sign-in or subscription required. Have a go at over 3,000 activity sessions either live or on demand, all led by expert tutors and presenters. Sessions include exercise, dance, quizzes, cooking, music, gardening, DIY, crafts, wellbeing and many more. (Photo credit: Royal Voluntary Service)
Everyday Active
Everyday Active Workshop
The Everyday Active Workshop is for anyone wanting to improve their knowledge and understanding of the benefits of physical activity, to feel confident about having conversations with others to help get more people, more active across Kent and Medway.
“Both presenters clearly knowledgeable around physical activity and the benefits. Their natural passion for it shined through.” Attendee
Join us online for our next free workshop on Thursday 2 July 2026, 12:30 – 13:30.
Become an Everyday Active Ambassador
Everyday Active Ambassadors play a vital role in helping people in their local community find more ways to be active. This rewarding voluntary role is perfect for anyone working in community settings, such as libraries, churches, pharmacies, schools or for people who are part of a local community group, parish council or residents’ association. As an ambassador you will receive support and training on:
- the recommended activity guidelines for adults, children and disabled people;
- the benefits of being active and the evidence that supports this;
- the free resources, such as posters and postcards, that are available to distribute in your local area;
- the Everyday Active website so you can help people discover local activities that are right for them.
If you’d like to become an Everyday Active Ambassador or know someone who might be interested, please email Yasmin, our Everyday Active Officer at yasmin.hosken@kent.gov.uk
Healthy Ageing Report
The Health and Social Care Committee’s recently published Healthy Ageing report highlights physical activity as vital to helping older people stay healthy, independent, and resilient to illness, frailty, and falls. It emphasises prevention as key to reducing NHS pressure and costs.
Recommendations include: embedding advice and social prescribing of physical activity into routine care for older people from GPs and other clinician; strengthening links between NHS services, leisure providers and community groups; and requiring the Care Quality Commission to ensure care homes deliver exercise programmes for residents.
Funding Opportunities
National Lottery Awards for All England
- Grants of up to £20,000 for community‑led projects that protect the environment and encourage people to engage with nature. Open on a rolling basis.
- Flexible funding for community‑led sustainability and environmental projects. No fixed closing date.
The Wildlife Trusts Green Community Grants Programme
- Grants of up to £25,000 for projects supporting nature recovery, climate action and access to green spaces. Funding application windows: 24 June to 15 July 2026 and 30 September to 21 October 2026.
National Wellbeing Campaigns
Plastic Free July
Find out about Plastic Free July
Samaritans Awareness Day: 24 July 2026
Find out about Samaritans Awareness Day 24/7
United Nations International Day of Friendship: 30 July 2026
Find out about International Day of Friendship
Cycle to Work Day: 6 August 2026
Find out about Cycle to Work Day
National Allotments Week: 10 – 16 August 2026
Other News
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you
If there’s anything in our network news you’d like to discuss further, please contact Michelle Bird, our Health & Wellbeing Officer via email: michelle.bird@kent.gov.uk.