Older residents in Broxburn, West Lothian are keeping active thanks to an initiative targeting those over the age of 50.
Alive & Kickin is a series of organised activities ran by Broxburn United Sports Club (BUSC) aiming to provide individuals within the community with regular activities that are inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their age or ability.
The programme has three main objectives:
- To give more older people a purpose/focus in life, while feeling positive about the activities in their neighbourhood
- To support more older people in creating new friendships and social links within the area
- To allow more of the older generation to influence what activities happen in their community
Broxburn United Sports Club the anchor organisation within the Broxburn Community Sport Hub that aims to bring sports clubs and community organisations together to improve the contribution sport and physical activity has within local communities.
Ahren White, Sports Development Officer for Broxburn United Sports Club said: “BUSC aims to provide sporting and educational opportunities within our community to change lives for the better.
“We identified that there was a lack of opportunities in the area for older people and so we wanted to offer a range of activities that they could take part in.
"Our Alive & Kickin programme aims to provide organised activity opportunities that may not otherwise be readily available, helping to ensure that all members of the community have the chance to stay active, connected, and engaged.”
What's on offer
Alive & Kickin currently offer three activities each week, split across two days. These include walking football, a walking group and a multi-sports session, catering for over 60 participants on a weekly basis.
Walking football remains the most popular, attracting regular participants who enjoy the balance of light physical activity and strong social engagement.
The walking group includes a diverse mix of participants who take part in local walks within the community and, on occasion, venture further afield. These walks provide a relaxed and enjoyable setting for individuals to chat, reconnect with friends, and explore their surroundings.
The multi-sport sessions offer a different sport each week, tailored to the interests of the group. Participants are encouraged to contribute ideas, allowing them to try new activities or revisit sports they enjoyed in the past. The variety of multi-sports not only supports physical health and mobility but also keeps the sessions fresh, engaging, and inclusive for all abilities.
Following each session, individuals are encouraged to stay for light refreshments at the club, providing an important opportunity for social engagement and addressing social isolation which can be common among older demographics.
Ahren continued: “Our programme includes members of all ages, with our oldest participant in their 90s. This highlights the accessibility and appeal across a wide age range of activities.
“The programme also aims to support participants mental health and wellbeing by providing structure and routine for residents throughout the week.”
Revised programme
A new revised programme has been created through the collaboration with a range of partners to deliver a wider range of activities throughout the week, from Monday to Friday. This will now include a Sporting Memories remembrance session, Tai Chi and a local Arts and crafts group on top of the already established sessions.
Ahren commented on the changes saying:
“This has allowed us to collaborate with a wider network of partners, allowing us to deliver a greater variety of activities. We believe this expanded offering will increase our reach within the community giving more opportunities to engage in regular, meaningful activity, and enable the programme to grow.”
The Sporting Memories sessions have already proved to be very popular, with the Tai Chi and arts & crafts due to start at the end of April.
What participants think
The programme has supported a broad range of participants.
Archie (85) who has been involved in the walking football sessions since they began commented:
“I have always been involved with football. When my friend started walking football I joined too and have enjoyed making and developing strong friendships while keeping myself fit.
Ian (72) values the social side of the activities as he says:
“After retirement I wanted to keep as active as possible with all my newly gained free time.
"Everyone is going through their own difficulties, so the relaxed environment has made it great for sharing our issues and concerns with one another.”
For Jack (85) it’s been important for his mental health and wellbeing.
“It helps me to get out the house and keep my brain active.”
Find out more
- Learn more about the Alive n Kickin activities
- Community sport hubs
- Active West Lothian
