Course Diary             The Sharp End - Fitness, Fun and Health Living for the over 50's

About Us  

Who are the Sharp End ?

Our full name is the 'Seniors Health & Active Retirement project'.  We are  a resource centre for people aged 50 and over living in Hackney.  We offer a wide range of services and activities to promote the health and well-being of older people. We are an independent charitable project and a company limited by guarantee. We have been operating  since 1996. We are based at Dalston Methodist Celesta et al.JPG

Centre as we rent the space from them but we have no ties to any religion and welcome people of all religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.  Our building is fully accessible to people using wheelchairs and we have parking for disabled people (please ring to let us know) 

Registered Charity Number: 1054116

Company limited by guarantee in England and Wales : Number  3140955

The overall aim of The Sharp End is to maintain and improve the health of older
people.

Our interpretation of health is broad and holistic, encompassing all aspects of physical, mental and social
well-being.

Our specific objectives include:

  • prevention and reduction of disease.
  • identification and reduction of stress and the promotion of good mental health.
  • the combating of isolation and loneliness.
  • providing a resource to enable people to have fun.
  • supporting and empowering older people to improve the quality of their lives and specifically their health.

A Few Facts and Figures

During 2010 nearly four hundred different people attended our classes . In all there were 4000 class attendances. One lady attends seven classes  a week attending classes but the average is about an hour a week. The vast majority of attendees are women but the number of men attending has increased and now 10% of our members are men

The oldest member of the Sharp End is 88 but this does not stop her attending more than 4 hours each week and engaging in some of our most demanding and energetic classes . About a third of our members are aged between 50 and 65, and  another third are over 75. Sixty five percent out of the 390 members live alone.

"I come out to do exercise because it doesn’t matter how much you promise, you wouldn’t do it on your own.”