Festival of Sport and Wellbeing invites Tameside to get active

A huge range of sports and wellbeing activities for people of all ages, abilities and disabilities will be on offer at Active Copley later this month, as Active Tameside hosts its Festival of Sport and Wellbeing.

The free event takes place at Active Copley in Stalybridge on Saturday 31 January and is open to everyone in the local community, with an open invitation to come along, try something new and find out what activities are available close to home.

The festival will feature indoor, outdoor and water-based activities throughout the day, alongside free health checks and advice, careers information from Active Tameside, and even the chance for youngsters to meet Disney’s Princess Ariel.

While the full programme is still being finalised, a wide variety of activities have already been confirmed. Children and young people aged five to 16 will be able to take part in dodgeball games, karate, swimming, snorkelling, inflatables, tennis, table tennis, archery, fencing and cricket.

There will also be inclusive activities such as boccia, curling, yoga, relaxation sessions and a fun warm-up to kick-start the day. For disabled riders, adaptive bikes will be available, alongside a little rider's session, an outdoor pony petting patch, and a crèche and rhyme time for children and families.

Those aged 13 and over can enjoy three virtual classes in Active Copley’s spin studio, while families can take advantage of general swimming sessions in the small pool, open to one adult and up to two children, including non-swimmers.

Gavin Browne, Active Tameside’s Head of Active Education, said: “It’s an open invitation for people to come along and try the activities going on throughout the day, to see the types of opportunities available in the local community.

“A key element to the day is trying to improve the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of the local community, so hopefully people, especially those who’ve not been in the centre before, can see what they can get involved in.

“We’re working with many of our local partners through TSPAN (Tameside Sport and Physical Activity Network) on this to provide a pathway into their clubs that hopefully will lead to a lifelong engagement with physical activity.”

Clubs already confirmed to be taking part include Stalybridge Swimming Club, Stalybridge Snorkelling Club, Goldcrest Archers, Micklehurst Cricket Club, Stayley Cricket Club, Ashton Fencing Club and Priory Tennis Club. Each will deliver their own 60-minute session during the day, which will culminate in a dance performance by the Titans dance troupe.

Other organisations attending include Tameside Council’s Be Well health check team, Active Tameside’s careers and membership teams, Grow in Tameside, and Your Wellbeing Company.

For more information about the Festival of Sport and Wellbeing and how to take part, visit www.activetameside.com/festival-of-sport-wellbeing.