North Yorkshire Sport has been awarded £100,000 in National Lottery funding to support its work with older adults. The organisation, based in Harrogate and covering the whole of North Yorkshire, will use the cash to deliver face to face therapeutic exercise in the homes of adults age 65+ across the county.
The organisation uses sport as a driver for positive change by encouraging local people to become more active, improving both physical and mental wellbeing.
The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will give those adults who are unable to participate in physical activity classes due to the ongoing pandemic much needed access to tailored exercise sessions.
Whilst some activity providers have moved sessions online North Yorkshire Sport have discovered that many older adults do not have access to online resources to be able to participate at home. The new home exercise programme will see each participant receiving two face to face visits per week for four weeks from a qualified therapeutic exercise instructor.
The new sessions starting in January means that 230 people will be seen face to face during 2021.
David Watson, Chief Executive at North Yorkshire Sport said:
We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to support hundreds of vulnerable older adults in our community. This is important because it helps these adults to have a connection, in person, with other people whilst simultaneously supporting them to become more physically active and supporting their mental wellbeing.
