Success for new social club

Friday February 26, 2010

Life begins at 60, according to members of a popular new exercise and social club run by Queens Park Rangers.

The Extra Time Social Club, which meets every Wednesday morning at the Hoops' Loftus Road stadium, offers local people aged 60 and over the chance to sample a range of free activities such as tai chi, aerobics and dancing, as well as making new friends.

QPR community trust administrator Sarah Holt, 37, who is helping to organise the social club, says it has swelled in popularity since its inception in November and now has 34 members.

"Most people are from Shepherds Bush and surrounding areas and we have people ranging from 60 to their late 80s," she said. "All the feedback has been very positive and people are starting to bring their friends along - a lot of it is word of mouth.

"The aim is to get the over-60s active, get them out of the house and get them together - there's a real social aspect to it as well as exercise.

"Some of them don't want to do the activities so they just come for a tea or coffee and play board games."

The club has just finished a six-week foray into tai chi, which culminated in a Chinese-themed lunch on February 17, and is now embarking on a five-week aerobics course.

Sarah added: "We've also done taster sessions on pilates, Argentine tango, dancing, kwik cricket, boules and croquet, and we'll be doing a couple of day trips soon.

"Some older people don't feel comfortable going to clubs or gyms, but here they are with people their own age and they can bring their friends along or make new ones."

Extra Time was one of 20 similar over-60s groups based at football clubs to receive funding from the Football Foundation and Sport Relief charity last year.

"We based our bid on the cultural diversity of the local people in this area, and we wanted to bring all cultures together," Sarah said.

"Initially our funding is for 30 weeks but we hope we can carry on indefinitely."

Keen members William and Kay Hailes, both 62, said they had just moved to Heathstan Road, Shepherds Bush, in July last year and the group had been a great way to settle into their new community.

Kay said: "We didn't know many people when we moved here, and we would rather go out and do things than sit at home."

William added: "We have met some lovely people and there's a great variety of things to do here. We're always trying something new and they really look after us. It's a real success."

Extra Time meets every Wednesday from 10am to noon at the Loftus Road stadium. To reserve a place, or get more information, call Sarah Holt on 020 8740 2533.