Have Fun Keeping Yourself and Others Fit!

Are you fed up with the football? Are you bored with the bingo? Do you spend too much time watching TV on your own?

Instead, would you like to get out and about, be more active and meet new people in your own age group? Would you like to be active - and be paid expenses - while helping people become healthier as a community health volunteer in Midlothian.

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions - and are aged 50 and above - then the Midlothian Ageing Well Project (MWAP) would like to hear from you.

They’re looking for men and women to spend a couple of hours a week helping people like themselves to lead a more healthy and active life.

Kath Laing, Midlothian Council co-ordinator for the Ageing Well programme, explained. “We’re currently seeking new people to train as community health volunteers for our ‘Keeping Active’ programme. Once trained, volunteers act as advocates for a full and healthy lifestyle and encourage other people aged 50-plus to get active.”

Shirley Jack (picture left) from Dalkeith has already trained as a community healthy volunteer with the Midlothian Ageing Well Project. She said: “The ‘Keeping Active’ programme is a tremendous opportunity for new volunteers to keep both their mind and body active. As a volunteer, you develop your knowledge of the many and varied leisure and recreation opportunities and community activities available in Midlothian.

“We have a lot of fun together by keeping active, and being a community health volunteer helps increase your own confidence by socialising and making new friendships in your own age group”.

Keeping Active co-ordinator Kath Laing added, “Community health volunteers receive training to enable them to provide advice and opportunities for keeping healthy to people in their own age group.

“As well as presenting a wide range of possibilities for staying physically active - such as dancing-for-health, singing-for-health and a health walking programme - we can also help tackle other health issues, such as, nutrition and diet, mental health, social isolation and lifestyle choices such as smoking and alcohol.

“Additionally, our volunteers have the opportunity to develop their ‘people skills’ - such as positive communication and listening skills - and to improve their knowledge about their own health issues. ”

If you would like to learn more about the community health volunteering, contact: -

Kath.Laing@midlothian.gov.uk
Ageing Well Project Co-ordinator
Midlothian Council
Tel 01968 664088