The three-week project was designed to allow local residents over the age of 50 to try out their local leisure centre for free.
The aim was to dispel myths that age is a barrier to using sports centres and help educate the over-50s of the variety of activities on offer.
As part of their community development remit, Bristol Ageing Better funded the project which was being delivered by LiveWest staff.
Bristol Ageing Better is a partnership working to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people and help them live fulfilling lives.
Programme Manager, Carly Urbanksi, said: “We are delighted to be supporting LiveWest’s new sports classes for the over 50s in Bristol as they provide a fantastic opportunity for older people to socialise and engage with one another at the same time as keeping fit!”
Everyone Active, which manages Easton Sports Centre and St Paul’s Sports Centre on behalf of Bristol City Council, offered to provide free sports and exercise activities for people living in the Old Market, Lower Easton, St Judes, and St Paul’s area.
The scheme began on September 10 and the first week was earmarked as a sign-up week, where people could apply for their Free Everyone Active card and given details on how to download the App, which listed all of the activities.
The following two weeks enabled members to sign up for any class free of charge. Sessions included swimming, boxercise, Zumba and a gym workout.
LiveWest held a celebration event at Easton Sports Centre on September 28, which included information stalls promoting health and wellbeing, the chance to have blood pressure and BMI checks and an offer to secure a cheaper membership as well as a chance to win a free membership.
The scheme attracted TV coverage with ITV Bristol and Bristol local TV filming one of the sessions at the Easton Sports Centre.
LiveWest Community Empowerment Officer, Lucille Smith, said: “We have noticed that the older generation in our communities are the least active and this contributes to poor health and age-related problems.
“So our aim is to tap into this group of over-50s and try our best to engage and motivate them to use their facilities.”
Gary Teagle, Everyone Active’s contract manager for Bristol, said: “We are delighted to be a part of this initiative. Everyone Active prides itself on encouraging everyone, of all ages and ability, to be more active so we were only too pleased to host these events.
“Sports and exercise is obviously key to a healthy lifestyle, but it’s also a fantastic way of meeting new people and making friends. The sessions will be great fun and we encourage everyone from the over-50s generation to come along and try something new.”