Over-60s in Sussex stay active with Vida Active Club CIC

Sessions are being held in Worthing, Fishersgate, Hangleton and Hove, with the help of grants from Adur and Worthing Councils, Brighton & Hove City Council and Sussex Community Foundation.

Founder Cleria Humphries, who has been running the business for nine years, said it had been important to keep going over the past few months, despite the restrictions.

She said: “Over-60s in the are don’t let the lockdown get in the way of their fitness. With their usual meet up rooms still closed, they now meet in parks and other green areas to exercise and stay connected with each other.

“It is essential for not only their physical health but also their mental wellbeing.”

Back in March, when lockdown first happened, the fitness social enterprise moved its Exercise & Socialise sessions online via Zoom. Then, when the weather improved, members started meeting outdoors, observing social distancing and other safety rules.

Cleria said: “With Adur Council remaining silent of when the Eastbrook Manor Community Centre in Fishersgate might re-open, and a home for the Hangleton group not yet been found, the ‘oldies’, as they call themselves, are hoping they will not be left out in the cold when winter comes.”

The programme includes sessions at Fishersgate Recreation Ground and in the ground of St Richard’s Church in Worthing, costing £1.

The club is open to anyone over the age of 60 – the oldest member currently attending is 89.

Karen and Jack Prier said: “The aim of the exercises is to improve core strength, which is so important for us folk ‘of a certain age’. We know that the class is effective in achieving this aim, as we are aware of having improved our balance over the time we have been attending.

“Cleria creates a warm, inclusive and welcoming atmosphere amongst the class members. This is reflected not only during the classes but also in the friendly social time afterwards, when we can relax and enjoy a chat together.”

Roy and Elaine Watson said: “We are finding this group of great benefit to us both physically and mentally and speaking to others in our group, like us, the newly retired and up to those into their 80s we are all finding it a great help in our lives.

“We have seen at first hand the good that Cleria’s meetings are doing for both us and those others at our over-60s Exercise & Socialise meetings and know that many others would benefit from this group and perhaps other groups within the area.”

Visit www.vidaactive.club for more information.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.