New digital Sporting Memories group from SMFS

There is a new digital group for anybody over the age of 50 who wants to connect to talk about sports, a popular topic that always brings with it significant memories. So, where were you when Scotland beat the Netherlands 3-2 in 1978 (at football, of course)?

Check out the full description and poster from Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland below:

Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland became the first of its kind to be dedicated to the development and use of sports reminiscence, inclusive physical activities and intergenerational activities to support isolated older people across the country.

The Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland is a charity that runs weekly sporting memories clubs, that brings together older people living with long term conditions such as dementia through sporting reminiscence and physical activities, with the aim of improving well-being and reducing loneliness and social isolation.

Using images of sport, articles and memorabilia, older people are assisted to stay connected to their friends and communities, cognitively stimulated and physically active.

A wealth of evidence on ageing well has highlighted the impact remaining connected to friends, family and communities, remaining cognitively stimulated and physically active can have on our health and wellbeing. Sporting Memories Clubs have proven to help participants, many of whom are living with dementia to do just this.

Since the emergence of the pandemic, all our clubs have closed, but we have embraced the digital world and now our club sessions are online.

The Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland is delighted to announce that in association with Ceartas Advocacy, we are looking to create  a new weekly Virtual Sporting Memories Club here in East Dunbartonshire.

Sporting Memories Clubs are for anyone over the age of 50 who enjoys talking about and remembering sport. Some – but not all – of our members are living with dementia or are isolated; others simply enjoy the opportunity to meet other people.

For anyone interested in the development of this new club, could you please contact SMFS Co-ordinator Jim Purvis on 07752 436587 or e-mail: jim@thesmf.co.uk

This is another exciting development in our aims to support older people across Scotland and to connect through the power of sport. It is crucial we enable more people to be physically active and involved in fun, stimulating interests that help create new friendships.

Maurice Donohue, Chief Operating Officer