Founded in 2013 by Eddie Brocklesby, the UK’s oldest Ironman athlete, Silverfit has a mission to promote happier, healthier ageing through affordable physical activity, combating social isolation in the process. We spoke to Eddie – pictured above crossing Tower Bridge in The Big Half! – to get her thoughts on the event and why age is just a number...
Tell us about Silverfit.
Silverfit’s aim is to improve older people’s quality of life and also to save the NHS and social care providers money. Our members – approximately 2,000 so far with an average age of 70 – can meet up at 17 venues across nine London boroughs to exercise and socialise.
Individual venues offer different activities, from Nordic walking, to Pilates, yoga, walking football, tai chi, qi gong, Latin American dance, badminton, indoor cycling, gym/fitness classes, Bollywood dance and silver cheerleading. This choice means everyone should be able to find an activity they enjoy, regardless of ability or experience.
What are the benefits for your wider community?
As people age it can be more difficult to find activities that are safe, or they feel comfortable to engage in. At Silverfit we risk-assess all activities to ensure they are accessible and safe for all our members. Our instructors are qualified in the activities they lead and many are retirees wanting to stay fit and healthy.
At this stage in life, when you are no longer working, isolation can lead to loneliness and mental health challenges like depression. Attending a Silverfit session means you socialise before, during and after the activity, which goes a long way to help combat social isolation in the community.