Hounslow residents got a chance to dance recently at a wellbeing event put on by local care provider Avant Healthcare and Age UK Hounslow.
The ‘Bolder not Older’ dance session, tailored for older adults by dance company DanceWest, was offered free to Hounslow residents by Age UK Hounslow at Southville Community Centre in Feltham.
“Around 90 people came along and many joined the Bolder not Older dancers in swing, jazz, mambo and even flamenco dances. There was lots of laughter and people from all over Hounslow met each other. It was a healthy way to have a lot of fun,” said Danielle Daines, Branch Manager at Avant Healthcare Hounslow.
Avant provided the refreshments and raffle prizes, and five Avant managers volunteered to help organise and run the event, including making sandwiches and baking cupcakes. Danielle said: “Afterwards they told me that they loved it and they are keen to do it again.”
The day is already changing lives. Debra Best, lifelong Bedfont resident and Avant Healthcare’s Field Based Manager for TW14, says: “I brought along one of my customers who got chatting to two couples and she is now going to come to the centre each week. It’s great to be involved with events that contribute to the local community.”
Hansa Darbar, Events, Community and Business Development Officer from Age UK Hounslow, which booked the Bolder not Older dance session, said: “So many people could relate to the music and many danced and sang along with tunes that they remembered.
“We know music and dancing are beneficial for physical and mental fitness, especially for older people, so this was good for wellbeing and tied in with our overall aim to combat loneliness and isolation in the Hounslow community.”
The centre offers activities including yoga, line dancing, exercise classes, games, sign language and computer training to anyone wanting to lead a healthy, fuller life. “We are hoping to raise funds to bring Bolder not Older dance sessions back regularly,” said Hansa.
Sally Graham, Managing Director at Avant Healthcare, which cares for people in their own homes and in care settings, said: “Avant is driven to promote the health and wellbeing of all our customers and will continue to support them to attend events like this in their local community.”
