BRADFORD U3A GROUP RECEIVES £1,000 DONATION TO SUPPORT A CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES
Helping to recognise the outstanding contribution the Bradford u3a team provide in supporting the wellbeing of local older people, the McCarthy Stone Foundation has donated £1,000 to support new activities throughout 2024.
Based at The Bradford Club on Piece Hall Yard, Bradford u3a is part of a UK-wide collection of charities that provide the opportunity for those who are no longer in full-time work to come together and learn for fun. Offering a safe and friendly meeting space, the initiative encourages members to explore new ideas, skills, and interests as part of regular speaker meetings, trips and visits, and interest groups, ranging from creative writing to pickleball.
According to one study, participating in hobbies is linked to lower levels of depression, higher life satisfaction, happiness, and self-reported health in people aged 65 and over . Initiatives like u3a help to bolster the effects of hobbies and interests by encouraging new friendships, promoting physical activity, and improving self-confidence.
The volunteer-led group is now nearly 300 members strong, with membership numbers increasing as people have gained more confidence in going out and about, meeting old friends and new.
The donation, which has been issued as part of McCarthy Stone’s Happier, Healthier Project, will be used to enhance the selection of activities and events on offer, including wellbeing days, information on tax and care, pain management and exercise classes, and additional talks by external speakers. The Happier, Healthier Project aims to provide financial assistance to community groups that help to support the independence and wellbeing of older people in the area.
Ros Garside , Chair of Bradford u3a, comments: “We’re delighted to have the support of the McCarthy Stone Foundation, who like us, are strongly committed to improving the wellbeing of older people. We’re hugely grateful for their generous donation, which will go a long way in helping us to enrich our work through activities that address digital wellbeing, as well as mental and physical health. Some of the funding will also be used to run more free events that encourage members to socialise and make new friends.”
The McCarthy Stone Foundation supports grassroots, volunteer led charitable causes that promote the health and wellbeing of older people. It is the independent, registered charity of the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, McCarthy Stone, which has a new Retirement Living development under construction on Bradford Road in Idle.
Declan Fishwick, Business Development Manager at McCarthy Stone, comments: “Supporting and engaging with the communities close to our developments is a key focus at McCarthy Stone and we are delighted, in partnership with the McCarthy Stone Foundation, to lend a helping hand to Bradford u3a.
“As a company specialising in the development of friendly and welcoming communities for retirees, the happiness and welfare of older people is at the heart of everything we do. This makes initiatives such as this a great fit for us. We look forward to seeing the Bradford u3a group continue its work in helping those no longer in full-time work live life to the fullest.”
