Edinburgh project Ageing Well, which promotes healthy lifestyles for older adults in the capital who are inactive, has been awarded a prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the ‘MBE’ for volunteer groups.
The award, which came at the beginning of Volunteer Awareness Week, 1-7 June, is a unique UK national honour, created by Her Majesty to mark the Golden Jubilee in 2002 and to recognise the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups of volunteers.
Ageing Well is a partnership between NHS Lothian, Edinburgh Leisure and Pilmeny Development Project and is part of the UK Ageing Well network, which aims to increase the expectation of good health in later life.
Helen McFarlane, Head of the Active Communities Team at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We’re delighted that our Ageing Well volunteers have been recognised for all the support they give to this project. It goes without saying that the contribution of our volunteers makes such a vital difference to so many of the Active Communities programmes that Edinburgh Leisure delivers each week and we couldn’t do it without them.”
Ageing Well Edinburgh, which is supported by 70 Ageing Well volunteers, who are older adults themselves, has over 15 successful years of making a positive difference to the lives of those who regularly attend the activities. Each week this multi award-winning project helps almost 400 older people in Edinburgh stay active and healthy, with the emphasis being on meeting new people and making physical activity accessible and enjoyable.
Sessions take place in community venues throughout the city and activities cater for a wide range of tastes and abilities and includes health walks, dancing, chair-based exercise, singing, a swim buddy programme, cycling skills and Velo-city free bike loan, a photography group, an allotment project and indoor new age kurling.
Edinburgh Leisure celebrated the work of the wider group of volunteers with a thank you lunch at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cottage on Wednesday.
With 119 Active Communities classes delivered each week, the benefits of physical activity are helping participants and volunteers improve their health and wellbeing to live better, longer lives.
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I am a member of Ageing Well and it has done me a power of good. I feel far more fitter and I have met lovely people.