Engage with Engage!

A new FREE 9-day festival for Stratford's older residents, The Engage 50+ Festival, kicks off on Saturday 30 September with an information day at Levi Fox Hall, King Edwards VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Festival is the brainchild of Sunny Side Up chair, Sophie Mansfield, and is supported by Stratford District Council and Tyler House, Stratford Samaritans Community Hub.

Sophie felt that although there is lots going on in Stratford for older residents to get involved in, people don't always know about the groups or activities they could be part of.  The Information Day aims to address this and give people the opportunity to make new friends, try something new and have fun! T

The information day will encourage people to be more active and aware of maintaining good physical and mental health.  There will be opportunities at the information day to take part in archery, walking football, Zumba and drumming as well as to learn about mindfulness, staying strong and supple and staying safe online.  Over 50 groups are taking part, offering information and advice. 

Cllr Peter Richards, Housing and Infrastructure Portfolio says: "The District Council is pleased to be involved in such a great initiative for our older residents.  There is a huge range of organisations at the Information Day and some great events taking place during the Festival.  Social isolation can increase the risk of dementia as well as having other negative effects on health. The Festival will give people lots of ideas of what they can take part in."

The Engage 50+ Festival runs from Saturday 30 September to Sunday 8 October and includes a lively Barn Dance at Alcester Town Hall on Sunday 1 October, a bacon butty breakfast run by Mens Shed at Tyler House Community Hub on Wednesday 4 October and an invitation to join The Show Stoppers singing group at their regular workshop on 4 October at Holy Trinity Parish Centre.  

The October meeting of the Stratford Senior Citizens Action Network (SCAN) will form part of the Festival on Monday 2 October. A speaker from Action for Happiness will be talking to SCAN members about how to be happy. Stratford SCAN Chairman, Peter Burgess hopes that the interesting topic will encourage people to come along to SCAN for the first time and said: "Stratford SCAN meetings cover a range of topics throughout the year. We provide information to our members about useful services for older people and occasionally we have a more general theme."

The District Council hopes that the Engage Festival will be an annual event.    

For more information about the festival please email engagefestival@outlook.com, visit the website www.engagefestival.org.uk or call the recorded information line 01789 332545. Programmes are available from the District Council offices, Stratford Library and Tyler House Community Hub.