Millwall Community Trust are providing free weekly Walking Sports Clubs for older people to help reduce stress, isolation and loneliness.   The successful programme which has run for over two years, provides older people the opportunity to meet new people and supports those with two or three limiting long-term health conditions, including dementia, mental health, limited mobility or those who are inactive to stay fit and healthy.   Before and after each activity, the groups sit down together, and some may have open and individual conversations with refreshments along with reading and discussing various latest news stories from the Southwark News newspaper. The sports activities are delivered by having fun, stimulating the mind, developing balance and hand-eye coordination and offers an opportunity for people that would not otherwise be active and may feel disengaged with the local community. Activities include bowls, cricket, bowling, golf and other fun games using throwing, catching and striking the ball techniques.   Millwall Community Trust are currently working very closely with partners that include the Southwark Pensioners Centre, the South East London Alzheimer’s Society, the Dockland Settlements and the Bonamy and Bramcote TRA and Southwark Council to support older people in the local area. Last week, Millwall Community Trust arranged for a group of regular attendees to the programme to visit the Brick Lane Music Hall where guests had a fantastic day out with a three-course lunch provided before watching a show called “Welcome to the London Palladium” which included singing, dancing and comedy. The group travelled on the Millwall Community Trust minibus and crossed the Thames via the Woolwich ferry which also made the trip more fun amongst the passengers.   Community development and health improvement manager Richard White commented “Millwall are very passionate about tackling loneliness by providing weekly structured activities for older people. The weekly sessions provide older people with an opportunity to have company with others, provide some exercise and talk to others who may have similar health conditions. It also takes away the stress for those living with someone who has dementia for the time they are at the weekly Millwall Walking Sports Club which is often all they might normally get that week”. Millwall Community Trust are currently providing two free weekly walking sport clubs in Southwark which take place on a Wednesday afternoon at the Links Community Centre in Bermondsey and on a Friday morning at the Dockland Settlements in Rotherhithe. A third walking sports club is also soon to be starting in East Dulwich. If you are aware of any person(s) that may benefit from the Millwall Walking Sport Clubs programme, then for more information please contact Richard White at Millwall Community Trust on 020 7740 0503 or email [email protected]