Free exercise, wellness and social activity sessions for New Year

Sessions include 'Kickboxing For Wellbeing' in March for men and women, where there's the chance to hang around after for a hot or soft drink and a chat.

Popular tea dance events are returning across the district, including, as before, free entry and refreshments, with the addition of a free half-an-hour beginners dance tutorial before the main all-ability event. Some dates and venues have been announced and more will be added.

Free dementia friendly 'Love to Move' activity and social sessions have been extended into the New Year to allow the opportunity for people with dementia to exercise and carers to join in or sit back with a hot drink.

New free weekend wellness walks in March and Chatteris have also been added to the district-wide programme.

Plus new additional 'Forever Fit' sessions, which offer a chance to enjoy a variety of sporting activities in one session in a social group. Activities might include things like new age kurling, table tennis, badminton and mini golf.

The sessions are all offered and supported by Fenland District Council's Active Fenland, which secures grant funding to provide opportunities for people to live more active lives.

There are also free wellbeing stretch and breathe and dance classes.

As well as low-cost strength and balance classes designed for people who feel their confidence and mobility is diminishing. Plus, yoga, badminton, walking football and mixed discipline social classes.

See what's on near you

Cllr Alex Miscandlon, Fenland District Council portfolio holder for leisure, said: "New Year is a common time for people to want to create new healthier habits and that couldn't be easier with the support of Active Fenland.

"So much of what it offers is free and the rest very low cost. All sessions are especially welcoming and friendly and designed to be appealing to even those people who face physical or emotional barriers to getting active.

"I'd urge people to take a look at the sessions on offer, find something that appeals and to give it a try. You'll be so pleased you did.

"In addition to all the Active Fenland offerings, we also have our leisure centres and swimming pools. Not all towns have managed to keep their pools and leisure centres open and I'd encourage our residents to make the most of those and all the facilities and classes they offer.

"If you have certain health conditions that could be eased by exercise, you may even be eligible for a health referral programme at one of our leisure centres - ask your GP."

People can also sign up now to the 2024 Healthy You Virtual Festival - a month-long programme of free classes, workshops, talks and events focusing on physical activity, mental wellbeing and healthy eating, beginning January 1^st, which Active Fenland is involved in. Sign-up at: Living Sport

• Welcoming, circular wellbeing walks designed to be inclusive for all abilities begin again across the district in January. Registering in advance is preferred but you can just turn up. Find details of Fenland walks under town headings below. Register at: Register 
• Except where stated, Active Fenland sessions should be booked in advance via: www.fenland.gov.uk/activefenlandbookingform
• See, the Active Fenland timetable

Details of the latest Active Fenland sessions

• Chatteris
• March
• Whittlesey
• Wisbech
• Other Fenland locations 
• Vitual / self-led

Chatteris

• Free Chatteris Pocket Park Wellbeing Walk, first Sunday of the month, 10am, from outside The Sportsman, Fairway, PE16 6ST. Begins Sunday, January 7. Walk of 45 - 60 minutes.
• Free Chatteris Wellbeing Walk, Tuesdays, 1.45pm from Chatteris Library, Furrowfields Road, PE16 6DY. Walk of around 45 minutes, variable but usually slower pace. Tea/coffee available afterwards in the library. From Tuesday, January 9.
• Free dementia friendly 'Love to Move' class 11am to 12.30pm Thursdays at King Edward Community Centre, King Edward Road, Chatteris PE16 6NG. From Thursday, January 11. No need to book.
• Free 'Wellbeing Stretch and Breathe' class to help with relaxation and releasing tension, suitable for all abilities, with exercises that can be done either on a chair or the floor, at King Edward Centre, King Edward Road, Chatteris, Thursdays, 12.45pm to 1.45pm. From Thursday, January 11. Book at: Active Fenland booking form
• Free tea dance, at King Edward Centre, Friday, February 23. Beginners dance lesson 1.30pm to 2pm and main event for all abilities 2pm to 4pm. Book at: Active Fenland booking form
• Strength and Balance classes for people who have or are losing confidence in their balance or fear falling, Fridays, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Chatteris Leisure Centre, Eastwood, Chatteris, PE16 6FN. From Friday, January 5. Sessions cost £2.50 and can be booked and paid for at the leisure centre.
• 'Pre-fit' activity sessions for people who have noticed they are limiting their activity or have stopped doing the things because they are getting more challenging. At Chatteris Leisure Centre. Wednesdays, 11.30am to 1pm. £3 per session, book and pay at leisure centre.

March

• Free 'Beat the Winter Blues Wellbeing Walk', every two weeks on Sundays, 2pm from outside March Library, City Road, PE15 9LT. Option of 15 to 20-minute walk or extension to 45-minute to 60-minutes. Optional hot drink in local pub afterwards. From Sunday, January 7.
• Free dementia friendly 'Love to Move' class 11am to 12.30pm Tuesdays at March Braza Club, Elm Road, PE15 8NZ. From Tuesday, January 9. No need to book.
• Free March Riverside Wellbeing Walk, Tuesdays, 1.30pm from March Library, around an hour, variable yet usually moderate pace. Tea/coffee available afterwards in the library. From Tuesday, January 9.
• Free adults 'Wellbeing Dance and Stretch' fun dance and wellness stretching for beginners, Wednesdays at Neale Wade Sports Centre, Wimblington Road, March, PE15 9PX. From Wednesday, January 10. Book at: Active Fenland booking form
• Free 'Kickboxing For Wellbeing,' Saturdays, 9.30am to 11am, RKA Kickboxing Academy, Unit C4, Enterprise Park, March PE15 0BD. From Saturday, January 20. Book to ensure a place or turn up on the day. For people aged 16 plus. Enjoy a free hot drink and chat afterwards too.
• Free tea dance at March Braza Club, Elm Road, PE15 8NZ, Friday, May 31. Beginners dance lesson 1.30pm to 2pm and main event for all abilities 2pm to 4pm. Book at: Active Fenland booking form
• 'Pre-fit' activity sessions for people who have noticed they are limiting their activity or have stopped doing the things because they are getting more challenging. At George Campbell Leisure Centre, City Road, PE15 9LT. Wednesdays, 2pm to 3.30pm. £3 per session, book and pay at leisure centre.

Whittlesey

• Free Whittlesey Wellbeing Walk, every 2nd & 4th Monday of the month, 10am from the Buttercross, Market Street, around an hour at variable but usually slower pace. Tea/coffee available afterwards in the library. From, Monday January 8.
• New 'Forever Fit' sessions - a chance to enjoy a variety of sporting activities in one session in a social group. Activities might include things like new age kurling, table tennis, badminton and mini golf. At Manor Leisure Centre, Station Road, Whittlesey PE7 1UA. Free taster session 1pm to 2pm, Tuesday, January 16. Ongoing sessions Tuesdays, 1pm to 2pm, £2 per person.
• Strength and Balance classes for people who have or are losing confidence in their balance or fear falling. At Manor Leisure Centre, Station Road, Whittlesey PE7 1UA. Fridays 11.30am to 12.30pm, beginning January 19. £2.50 per session, book and pay at leisure centre.
• 'Pre-fit' activity sessions for people who have noticed they are limiting their activity or have stopped doing the things because they are getting more challenging. At Manor Leisure Centre, Station Road, Whittlesey PE7 1UA. Tuesdays, 10am to 11.30am. £3 per session, book and pay at leisure centre.

Wisbech

• Free Wisbech Mindful Wellbeing Walk, Fridays, 10am from Wisbech Park Bandstand, around an hour at a variable but usually moderate pace. From Friday, January 5.
• Free tea dance, at Queen Mary Centre, Queens Road, PE13 2PE, Friday, March 15. Beginners dance lesson 1.30pm to 2pm and main event for all abilities 2pm to 4pm. Book at: Active Fenland booking form
• Strength and Balance classes for people who have or are losing confidence in their balance or fear falling Wisbech Oasis Centre, St Michaels Avenue, PE13 3NR, Tuesdays 12.15pm to 1.15pm can be booked and paid for at the leisure centre.
• Turn-up and play sessions, Hudson Leisure Centre, Harecroft Road, Wisbech, PE13 1RL, £2:
  • Badminton sessions for people aged 16 plus:
  • Social Ladies', Wednesdays, 7pm to 8pm
  • Beginners, Mondays, 6pm to 7pm
  • Intermediate, Mondays, 7pm to 8pm  
  • Walking football, Fridays, 7pm to 8pm
  • Forever Fit - a chance to enjoy a variety of activities in one session in a social group and enjoy an included drink and a chat. Activities might include things like new age kurling, table tennis, badminton and mini golf. Tuesdays, 11.30am to 12.30pm.
• 'Pre-fit' activity sessions for people who have noticed they are limiting their activity or have stopped doing the things because they are getting more challenging. At Hudson Leisure Centre, Wednesdays, 2pm to 3.30pm. £3 per session, book and pay at leisure centre.
• Low-cost yoga also continues in Wisbech, see the Active Fenland timetable.

Other Fenland locations 

Doddington Court, Benwick Road, Doddington, PE15 0WD (book and pay online at: www.fenland.gov.uk/activefenland or at Doddington Court):

• Strength and Balance classes for people who have or are losing confidence in their balance or fear falling, Wednesdays, 11.15pm to 12.15pm. £30 for 12 weeks.
•  'Pre-fit' activity sessions for people who have noticed they are limiting their activity or have stopped doing the things because they are getting more challenging. Wednesdays, 12.30pm to 2pm. £36 for 12 weeks.

Christchurch - Free tea dance at Christchurch Community Centre, Upwell Road, Christchurch, PE14 9LL, Friday, May 24. Beginners dance lesson 1.30pm to 2pm and main event for all abilities 2pm to 4pm. Book at: Active Fenland booking form

Wimblington - Low-cost yoga continues in Wimblington, for details, see the Active Fenland timetable at: https://www.fenland.gov.uk/activefenland

Vitual / self-led

• Sign-up to the 2024 Healthy You Virtual Festival via: Living Sport
• Active Fenland can also provide 'active at home' booklets and family treasure hunt sheets for outdoor fun - email: activefenlandbookings@fenland.gov.uk
• And there are virtual fitness sessions on the Active Fenland You Tube channel: @activefenland8408

Keep up to date with Active Fenland news on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ActiveFenland

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December 2023