Innovation: European Association for Physical Activity 50+

Poland

AAI Domains:

• Independent, healthy and secure living (promoting physical activity)

• Participation in society (voluntary activities)

There is overwhelming evidence that physical activity is beneficial to health and well-being at any age and it is plausible that there are additional benefits for undertaking exercise in the natural environment. Edward O. Wilson popularised the biophilia hypothesis in his work in the 1980s – that humans have an urge to affiliate with the natural environment full of living things – and there is evidence to support the positive health effects of green spaces although the causal mechanisms are not clear.

The European Association for Physical Activity 50+ (50+ ESPAR) is a non-governmental organisation established in 2006 to promote physical activity for people aged 50 years and over. It is a third sector organisation that has support from a range of corporate sponsors, public authorities and charitable foundations that recognise the value of the work and the expertise that they bring to this area of work.

50+ ESPAR has developed a number of programmes and partnerships with municipalities across Poland such as the Park programme that started in 2014. This is funded as part of the Polish government’s active ageing strategy (ASOS, 2014–2020) and operates in several municipalities through the provision of outdoor activities in public parks for people of all ages. It encourages physical activity and voluntary activities in the local community and appears to be highly valued by participants. 50+ ESPAR also runs the Seniorada programme which is a large scale recreational picnic programme that has operated across five regions since 2007 and provides opportunities for physical activity and greater social connectedness.

PRO Woman 50+ is a recreational programme for older women that has been supported by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism since 2010. It is aimed at women in the 45–60 age range who might be reluctant to take up physical exercise. It expanded to cover 13 locations in 2012 but has subsequently contracted due to funding limitations but it is popular with participants.

It works in partnership with the University of the Third Age Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw on local projects to encourage physical activity among older people. 50+ ESPAR is a partner and coordinator of 22 non-governmental organisations for older people in Forum 50+ which advocates for older people across Poland.

In relation to active ageing, 50+ ESPAR is effective in increasing physical activity among older people and does so with voluntary and inter-generational activity that is also likely to be beneficial to health and well-being. Increasing levels of physical activity is essential in a world that is increasingly less active due to sedentary working patterns and the reluctance of women to participate needs to be challenged if the benefits are to be widely spread.

50+ ESPAR website