Go For Life-More older people more active, more often
What is Go For Life ?
Go for Life is the national programme for Sport and Physical Activity for Older People. The programme aims to involve more older adults in all aspects of physical activity more often - not only participating but also planning and leading sport and physical activity within their own groups. There are two key strands: Active Living : aims to get more people involved in health enhancing physical activity. The programme is implemented in partnership with the Health Promotion Officers of the country's health boards. Sport Participation : aims to increase participation rates in sport by older people. It is intended that leaders will be trained locally through the network of Local Sports Partnerships - leaders who will in turn promote participation in sport amongst the older people in their communities. The main aims of these programmes are to:
- inform older adults of the benefits of physical activity and the range of opportunities available to them.
- educate older people in relation to engaging in physical activity
- implement activity events and programmes
PALS Workshops
Limerick County Sports Partnership in association with Age and Opportunity
Ireland are delighted to organise PALs (Physical Activity Leaders) Workshops in
Limerick County as part of the Go For Life programme. Keep an eye on the
Calendar section for dates of upcoming courses.
The message behind the Go For Life programme is “More older people, more active,
more often”. PAL stands for Physical Activity Leader. It also sums up the
friendly nature and sociable approach of the PALs workshops. The workshops are
run over 8 weeks, each week covering a different theme i.e. Rolling and Bowling,
Sit Fit and Better Balance to name but a few. The workshops enable participants
to plan and lead health enhancing physical activity sessions for healthy older
people. The workshops are aimed at members of clubs/groups of older people (e.g.
Active Retirement Groups, Day Care Centres etc.). Generally, 2 or 3 members from
each group will attend therefore sharing the responsibility of planning and
leading sessions back at their club/group.
To date over 1000 people have attended the PAL’s workshops nationwide. Go for
Life, as well as increasing the numbers of older people taking part in sport
also increases the number of older people actually leading sport.