The Morrisons Foundation has awarded a £13,680 grant to support the Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Rhinos Active Social programme, which aims to help older people across the city experiencing social isolation, lack of physical activity and increased risk of ill health.
The drop-in service is on offer to all residents of Leeds over the age of 60, offering a friendly and relaxed environment and a chance to take part in different health, wellbeing or physical activity topics each Tuesday morning including, guest speakers, a range of dance lessons, chair based yoga, Boccia, walking netball, and basic CPR training.
Since launching in February 2015, the Morrisons Foundation has donated over £15m to hundreds of charities making a difference in local communities.
To announce the charity’s latest donation, Leeds Rhinos Foundation Partnership Manager Dan Busfield and Rhinos stars Joel Moon and Rob Burrow were handed a cheque from the Morrisons Kirkstall Community Champion Jane Parkin.
Jane said: “We’re delighted that the Morrisons Foundation has awarded this grant to a charity which supports people in our community”.
Through weekly physical activity sessions, the programme is designed to improve participant's physical fitness, mental and social wellbeing as well as adding a social element and enjoyment to the weekly routines of those involved.
Speaking on behalf of Leeds Rhinos Foundation Dan Busfield said: “The Rhinos Active Social group is one of our most regularly attended health projects with over 20 people joining us every week to enjoy some interaction and a range of taster activities.
“Figures show over 40% of men and women aged over 50 are sedentary with that figure increasing with age, so programmes like this will hopefully keep more of our ageing population in Leeds active, benefiting society at large in terms of the health benefits and wider costs to communities and health care providers.”
Through the funding from the Morrisons Foundation, Leeds Rhinos Foundation have announced plans to take the programme away from its regular home at Headingley Carnegie Stadium to create a wider service that reaches into the heart of communities in the city.
“Thanks to the grant we can now look to spread the programme across Leeds with some satellite groups and will work with NHS Leeds to target areas in the city most in need,” added Dan.
There are over 260,000 people in Leeds over the age of 50, so by broadening our reach and developing local networks around our active social groups, we hope to be see more increases in friendship groups and confidence to further reduce social isolation in the city.”
For more information on Rhinos Active Social contact laura.buckle@leedsrhinosfoundation.org