Celebrate Your Age In Merton
Dancing on Wimbledon Piazza for festival launch
This year's Celebrating Age Festival launched its programme at the Piazza in Wimbledon with the help of performers from a number of community groups for older people in Merton.
Dance enthusiasts from groups including Positive Network, Merton and Morden Guild and London Southwest Chinese Community Association showed off their steps to world rhythms.
The festival launch got everyone in the mood ahead of a fun-filled two weeks in September (2-29 September). The festival supported by Merton Council and coordinated by Age UK Merton offers residents over 50 the chance to enjoy more than 100 colourful events and interesting workshops presented across Merton.
The programme offers a little of everything, from Zumba to patchwork, Tai Chi, Pilates and Line Dancing, as well as the chance to join regular walking groups, enjoy a mosaic workshop or a story-time session with children and grandparents. There will also be the opportunity to learn about local history and have help with knitting.
Merton Council's cabinet member for adult social care and health, Councillor Linda Kirby, said: "The festival is the main event of the year when it comes to celebrating the talents and contributions of the over 50s in Merton. We're now in our eleventh year and it just gets better every time. We always have a lot of fun and want to encourage as many of our older residents as possible to join in the celebration."
Festival organiser, Sue Tickner, said: "Our older residents offer so much to society, as group organisers, carers and grandparents. Their experience of life is important to pass on to our younger people. It's also important to highlight the fact that getting older is something that should be enjoyed. It often means you have more time free to spend on enjoying extended family as well as finding new interests and developing fresh skills – something this festival is all about."
Brochures are available at more than 100 outlets all over Merton, including libraries, community centres, churches, the Civic Centre in Morden and Age UK Merton.
The Festival Line will stay open until September 6 on 020 3328 0329, after which you can call event organisers directly. Further information can also be found on Merton Council’s website at www.merton.gov.uk/celebratingage.
September 2, 2013