The Open Age Mile is back for a third year and this time, theres even more ways to get involved! From 23rd to the 29th August, Open Age members, staff, family, friends and strangers will be doing their mile, their way. Whether that be walk, run, swim, cycle or paddle, the event will encourage them to get outdoors, become active and reconnect with their wider community after over a year of enforced restrictions.

Open Age is a charity that provides 350+ weekly activities for older Londoners, specifically living in Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham and Westminster. Through our self-made community our members are less lonely, able to find more volunteer opportunities and have improved physical and mental health. A 2019 member survey showed:

- More physically active 82%

- Increased confidence 80%

- Improved physical health & mental well-being 87%

- Wider social circle 69%

- Less visits to GP/Hospital services 51%

At the beginning of the pandemic, following the closure of our centres and suspension of in-person activities, Open Age undertook 6 weeks of telephone engagement, making over 10,000 calls to members to ensure they had access to food, medication, gas and electricity whilst strict lockdown measures were imposed. A remote programme was then developed which includes over 130 hours of activities ranging from Boxing, Singing, Chair Exercise, Spanish and Creative Writing offered through Zoom. To support those who were less confident accessing Zoom, How to use Zoom classes were delivered to help upskill members, allowing them to have access to our remote programme, medical appointments and connect with their friends and family whilst many of them were shielding alone.

Every penny raised through the Open Age Mile, will help provide meaningful activities, strengthen the Open Age sense of community, help more older people in London rediscover old hobbies, find new ones, make new friends, and most of all, have fun!