Case Studies.........

50+ Adventure Clubs

Northamptonshire 50+ Adventure Club

The Northamptonshire 50+ Adventure Club was first established in 1999 with support and encouragement from the Sports and Recreation Officer at East Northamptonshire Council.  The club started when the Recreation Officer brought together a group of people over 50 who initially did not know each other, but it is now run by its own committee and has over 100 members, with new members still encouraged to join.

The club organises a wide range of activities many of which involve physically active pursuits, and others which add to the social and fun nature of the club.  Participants have taken part in a huge range of activities over the years including sailing, walking, cycling, white water rafting, jet skiing, climbing walls, archery, tobogganing, dancing, tank driving, ghost walks and many more.  (A number of these activities have taken place in the Eastern Region, predominantly Cambridgeshire)  The club promotes itself as being for people over 50 who would like the opportunity to do all the things they couldn’t do when they were younger!

Since its development the club has received grants from the Foundation for Sports and The Arts and The National Lottery, which have been used to offset the costs of some of the sports and adventure activities.

The Club’s website (www.fiftyplusnorthantsadventureclub.org.uk) has details of all the activities members have participated in over the years, including photo’s and write ups from people who have taken part.

Learning Points:

*Some people over 50 are looking for more adventurous activities they can take part in with like minded people of a similar age; reaching 50 doesn’t automatically mean only gentle exercise is suitable!

*Offering a wide variety of activities can help to encourage people to attend events and sustain participation as people are less likely to get bored of just doing one activity.

*The fun and social side of the club is evident through the testimonials provided on the website and will be a key factor to keeping people engaged in the clubs activities.

*With appropriate support and encouragement in the first instance, people can and do go on to organise their own activities and create self sustaining opportunities for themselves and others to be active.