Seven Islands Leisure Centre has launched a new weekly social event for senior citizens to help combat loneliness among OAPs.
‘Generation Games’ will run every Thursday from 10am to 12pm, with group activities including pool, table tennis, darts and board games for £2.50 per person.
“Whilst we are all so busy going about our day-to-day lives, we may forget what it’s like for elderly adults in our community who may be spending the majority of their day by themselves,” said Everyone Active’s community development manager James Tierney.
“We’ve planned this new event in the hope that as a community we can tackle loneliness in elderly people and help them feel less isolated and alone.”
According to Age UK, 3.6 million older people in the UK live alone. Nearly two million of them report feeling ignored or invisible.
Research shows loneliness is hugely damaging to physical as well as mental health, and is believed to be as harmful as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day.
The new event at Seven Islands is being held with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. For more information, call 020 7237 3296.