Dover
£400
Boxercise
Older People
Organisation Overview:
The Riverside Community Hub is an independent local charity hub for the residents of Dover. Their dedicated staff and volunteers enable them to offer a range of services in Dover and the surrounding rural areas such as social opportunities, activities, and lunches as well as other essential services for the whole community.
Project Overview:
We set up an over 50’s Boxercise session running once a week at the Community Hub. The aim was to add additional services into our hub and be able to offer more to the community, welcoming clientele who have different abilities. The funding we received went towards the cost of an instructor to deliver the sessions and funding for the space.
We are working with a company called TKO Boxing who are based in Folkestone and have experience of running these sessions in other locations; they are fully qualified and provide a professional service.
Organisation Impact:
- Helped develop new relationships with local organisations
- Offer more opportunities for clients to be active
- Cater for clients with different abilities
- Increased our confidence to deliver physical activity
Community Impact:
- Increased social interaction
- Improved physical and mental health
- Helped clients connect with their local community
- Increased confidence in being active
“These classes reduce stress, boost confidence, and help foster a sense of community”.
Louisa Woodward, Centre Manager
Challenges:
When we originally set these sessions up, we were working with a different instructor, however due to their personal circumstance they were unable to commit to running the sessions. However, with some help and recommendations we did manage this and sessions are well underway and proving to be a great benefit to the community.
Key Learnings:
Promotion is key. A lot of promotion and different types of promotion is required to ensure word gets out about the sessions. Use methods such as leaflets, newsletters, social media and word of mouth.
Accessibility. Spend time making the facility accessible for all, ask people what they need and tell them about the ways the sessions and facilities cater for these.
Positive Experiences. Make the sessions fun and enjoyable. People want to feel a sense of achievement, be social and have a laugh not feel like doing exercise is a chore.
“This is an affordable option for people to access an alternative to traditional gyms, making fitness more inclusive and accessible”.
Louisa Woodward, Centre Manager
Next Steps:
We aim to grow our services and expand what we offer to support as many different people as possible. Working with TKO Boxing has been great, and we are sure these session will continue.
To find out more about what The Riverside Centre has to offer visit their website Riverside Centre Dover | Day Centre | Where age is just a number.