Silver Sunday comes to Plymouth

'Silver Sunday', a day of free fun and activities for older people is coming to Plymouth in October.

Plymouth City Council will host a week of events from Monday 30 September leading up to the Silver Sunday event. There will be a range of activities on offer at a number of venues, then on Sunday 6 October Silver Sunday will be held at the Guildhall from 11am to 4pm.

Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Peter Smith said: “I’m delighted to be able to offer such a wide range of activities for people to get involved in. From running groups to a tea dance there’s something for everyone. Silver Sunday began in London last year and is spreading across the UK, here in Plymouth we will be taking part this time and the event in the Guildhall promises to be a lot of fun.”

During Older People’s Week local organisations, charities and individuals are working with the Council to offer free events including education workshops, demonstrations, exercise activities, creative displays and music. The programme is designed to bring older people together and encourage them to try new things and keep active.

During Silver Sunday there will be a day of free activities at the Guildhall including Tai Chi, free hairstyle consultations and massage sessions, short mat bowls and a choir and pipe band.

Silver Sunday is a national celebration of the contribution older people make to their communities. Pioneered by Westminster City Council, Silver Sunday was first held in 2012 and was developed in response to a 2012 national Royal Voluntary Service survey which revealed the serious levels of loneliness felt by older people. More than 30% of people over 75 in 2012 said they were ‘very lonely’ with 25% admitting that they did not leave their homes for days on end.

Since its launch last year, Silver Sunday has gathered the support of celebrities including Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Terry Wogan, Gloria Hunniford, and Joanna Lumley.

Gloria Hunniford said: “These days, many people believe that growing older is something that should be celebrated. After all, we do not have to retire at a certain age anymore and many older people are continuing to keep themselves busy whether it is at work or play.

“Silver Sunday certainly encourages the enjoyment side of getting out and about and meeting new people: offers like tea dances, computer classes, yoga, film nights, and belly dancing are hard to resist (well, maybe the belly dancing is) and that is what we hope is achieved by Silver Sunday – a little encouragement to make the most of life.”

Joanna Lumley said: “This is a special day for older people to get involved in community events and activities to bring back some of the traditional community spirit. It‟s also a small thank you for your contribution to society.”

To find out more about how you can get involved in Silver Sunday please visit the Silver Sunday website http://silversunday.org.uk/

More information can be found at www.plymouth.gov.uk and www.visitplymouth.co.uk.