Kingdom

About Us

Kingdom Fitness grew out of the successful community exercise programme, 'Younger for Longer' ^© which was inaugurated in Wimborne, Dorset, in January 2000 by a Registered Nurse who was also an exercise instructor and personal trainer.   The number of classes in the programme rapidly increased to 16, totalling 321 participants, 88% of whom have continued attending long term.   There were also requests to run several additional classes within a 30 mile radius indicating the need to train more teachers.  

The Y4L exercise programme offers a variety of exercise sessions:  

u     Seated sessions for less active older people

u     Exercise to prevent falls and injuries  

u     Cardiac rehabilitation sessions

u     Circuit training sessions

u     Exercise to music for active older people

In addition a variety of other opportunities are provided:

u     Learning new things, for example, a number of older people have recently gained the OCN 'Learning Champions' certificate

u     Helping to enrich the lives of others, for example, taking part in the 'Operation Christmas Child' appeal

u     Day trips to parks, houses and places of interest

u     'Bring & share' lunches and teas

u     'Carols by Candlelight' Services at Christmas

 The sessions take place in a variety of venues:

u     Private homes

u     Retirement flats

u     Sheltered accommodation

u     Church and community halls 

u     Luncheon clubs

 The Increasing Need

It is well known that many older people in the UK live alone (Census 2001), and we are aware that the Wimborne programme is only reaching the tip of the iceberg. As in many other countries around the world, the average age of the population of the UK is increasing, in fact The World Health Organisation estimates that by the year 2020 there will be two billion people who are 60 years of age or more and it is estimated that by the year 2050, for the first time in history there will be more older people than children living on the earth (Laurence, 2006).

Research has shown that:

u     many older people in the UK today experience social isolation and an unnecessary decline in health and wellbeing.  For example, 25% of older people report that they have no close friends and 33% see the supermarket as being the best place to socialise, 1 in 5 eating their meals there rather than eating alone at home (Age Concern, 2005)

u     studies by Help the Aged, 2007 revealed that one and a half million older people feel socially isolated, nearly 300,000 stating that they can go for a whole month without speaking to a member of the family or to a neighbour

Research has also shown that:

u     regular physical activity decreases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity and also has a role in preventing falls among older people (Department of Health, 2007)

And evidence suggests that:

u     it is never too late for older people to learn (Age Concern, 2007)

However

Many older people in the UK lack the encouragement, motivation, transport or finances required to enjoy their lives to the full, for opportunities that are affordable, beneficial and of interest to older people are becoming more and more difficult to find.  

Kingdom Fitness has been established in order to help address this ever growing need.

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