Rookie golf, mini carpet bowls, table tennis and velcro darts were just some of the sports available during a highly competitive but good natured sports day held this week.
Inspired by the recent Commonwealth Games, six Karbon Homes tenants aged between 62 and 88 years old from Northfields House in Heaton, Newcastle competed against two other local sheltered housing schemes.
The event, which was held in Walker Park, Newcastle was organised by staff from Newcastle City Council’s Wellbeing Programme who have been visiting Northfields House on a weekly basis for the last two years. Sport and health support officers from the Active Health Team have been working with Karbon’s tenants holding regular health and fitness classes including chair exercises and nutritional advice.
The tenants from Northfields House were competing against residents from St Anthony of Padua sheltered scheme and Tree Top Village sheltered scheme, both in Walker. The overall winning team was St Anthony’s.
Gwen Muir, Northfields House Scheme Officer, said: “It was as if we had our own mini Commonwealth Games right here on our doorstep. It was a really good day out. Luckily, the weather didn’t dampen any spirits as all activities were held indoors and it was lovely to see our tenants happy and getting active. Our tenants enjoy participating in these activities and have regularly attended the sessions organised by the staff from the Active Health Team.”
Northfields House tenant Anne Tait, said: “We had a great day, made lots of new friends and to top it off, we had a lovely buffet lunch, a game of prize bingo and we all got a goody bag and a certificate. A good day was had by all.”
Susan Armstrong from the Active health Team, commented: “It was a lovely opportunity for older people to get together and they all participated in the games. The residents of the three sheltered schemes that took part all got on very well and would like to continue meeting up on a regular basis. Everyone enjoyed the event and had a really good laugh.”