Last year’s Older People’s Day

In the 2010 UK Older People’s Day, over 700,000 people took part in local events across the country, ranging from theatre projects to tea dances, fitness and healthy eating classes to fun days. Many of these events were built around 2010’s theme of "getting and staying active in later life."

Not all event organisers chose to celebrate the day using the active theme. Instead, some held their events under the wider vision for the day. Those events included talent shows and fashion shows, concerts, information fairs, talks, and taster sessions to acquire new skills, such as chocolate making, reflexology and computing. 

Some 2010 Older People’s Day events

• Football, armchair aerobics and skittles
• Theatre performances with video streaming
• Nine-day festival
• Tea afternoon and games
• Activity and relaxation ‘taster’ sessions
• ’Full of life’ themed event
• Community information, advice and discussion

Football, armchair aerobics and skittles – Bristol Rovers football club

Pensions Minister, Steve Webb, kicked off events, refereeing a five-a-side football match at Bristol Rovers Football Club. Age was no barrier in this match at the Memorial Stadium – an over 65’s team beat a Bristol Rovers staff and coaches team as part of the club’s Extra Time programme. Extra Time is supported by Sport Relief and the Football Foundation, and encourages older people to stay physically active in later life and targets issues such as social inclusion. After the football match, the group took part in arm chair aerobics and skittles.

Theatre performances with video streaming – Big Telly Theatre Company

This was a night that placed older people at the centre of their local community, by celebrating their creativity and imaginations! Five shows written and designed by older people, each with their own professional director and crew took place simultaneously in five different venues in Northern Ireland.

The five shows were as diverse as the people involved – one group explored carnival in its true form as a celebration of life. There was an opera about voyages, a piece inspired by the Moulin Rouge, a theatrical version of a silent movie and a lot of laughter, music and dance. As all the venues had web-streaming, audiences at each performance caught a live glimpse of all of the other performances throughout the region, and people at home could also watch on the internet.

Nine-day festival – York Older People's Assembly

The festival has been going for six years and was initially launched as a way to tackle negative stereotypes of older people and is utilised as a means for the whole community to come together in celebration of their older people. The festival was spread over a nine day period and is a major event for York’s older residents with around 7000 people taking part. The festival attracts people of all ages and offers around 80 events covering 8 main areas which include:

• Information events
• Performances
• Health
• Workshops
• Displays
• Dance and Exercise
• Faith Groups
• Social events

Tea afternoon and games – English Churches Housing Group

The residents of sheltered schemes got together to celebrate the event. It was the first time they had highlighted the event and they combined it with the Christian Aid Tea Afternoon. The residents and guests were treated to a talk about the ‘full of life day’ and reflected on the contribution they can make and already make to our society. They had a great couple of hours – guessing the number of teabags in the jar, taking part in a raffle, doing a quiz and talking to and getting to know each other.

Activity and relaxation ‘taster’ sessions – Active Newcastle

Active Newcastle held a family friendly fun day with the chance to try a variety of activities from private gym inductions, table tennis, badminton, bowls, curling, chair exercises, dance mats, basket ball, netball, keep fit, yoga, Pilates, egg and spoon races and rounders. Relaxation sessions offered Indian head massage, reflexology, manicures and pampering. There were stands providing information from a range of organisations including Age Concern Newcastle, Newcastle Welfare Rights Service, The Elders Council, Newcastle Warm Zone, the Local Pension Service, Tyne and Wear Fire Service, Active Newcastle and Newcastle Health Trainers.

'Full of life' themed event – Hyndburn Over 50s Forum

Five events were held themed around the Full of Life emotions. Vitality was represented by a walk along the canal, Knowledge involved the members and guests taking part in a quiz, Talent had an afternoon of dancing, Wisdom involved Lancashire dialect poetry and a speaker, and Energy was a vigorous walk round the gardens at Clayton Hall. 

Community information, advice and discussion – Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Older Persons month

A series of events were planned aimed at older people and took place across the city throughout September. At the launch, voluntary agencies, emergency services, health and local authorities joined forces to engage with older people in their own communities, providing information and advice on what services and activities are available, and listening to their views on services in their local areas.

An Older People’s Question Time was held at Leicester City Town Hall and older people of Leicester were invited to present questions to an influential panel regarding older people’s services in the city.