How leading a more active lifestyle can help people in Gloucestershire ‘age better’
From finding your fitness, to boosting your mental wellbeing, Age UK Gloucestershire is spreading the word that adopting a healthier lifestyle earlier on in life could increase our chances of a rich and full later life – with SoGlos exploring the ways that people in the county can ‘act now, age better’
By Jake Chown
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Published Wednesday 19 August 2026
| ageuk.org.uk/gloucestershire
An Independent, local partner of national charity Age UK, Age UK Gloucestershire works in the community to support older people, their families and carers, operating with a mission to support, educate, and influence the development of a more age-friendly Gloucestershire through its campaigns, outreach and partnerships
Local charity Age UK Gloucestershire is encouraging everyone in the county to discover the ways we can lead a healthier lifestyle in the present, to improve our health and wellbeing when we’re older
With more people in the UK living longer than ever before, the Gloucestershire charity – which seeks to change the day-to-day experience of getting older through essential services and support – aims to improve the later lives of people of all ages through its latest campaign, Act Now, Age Better
Whether its you or your loved ones who stand to benefit, the campaign highlights the advantages leading a healthy lifestyle earlier in life can bring when we’re older, providing handy tips, information and advice, along with details of how to get involved in Gloucestershire
From cycling, running and swimming, to team sports and group activities such as cricket, football, and hiking, SoGlos explores the activities the charity recommends for improving our health and wellbeing, and the benefits they can bring
Why we should all Act Now, Age Better
Age UK Gloucestershire says that while we can’t prevent ageing, we can all take action to help us ‘age well, our way’.
Helping to reduce the risk of dementia, lower cardiovascular disease, reduce depression, and decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes, the charity says regular movement is one of the most powerful tools we have to feel our best now and protect our future health – ‘a bit like paying into a physical pension plan’
It says: ‘Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore; it can be a stimulating hobby, a social opportunity, or even a simple integration into your day-to-day life by choosing to walk more instead of getting transport.
‘Whether you bolster your brain through team sports, keep your heart healthy by walking, or build balance with yoga, you’ll be making the right move’
Age UK Gloucestershire says it’s never too late to start, with simple but sustained steps leading to major benefits as we age – giving us the boost in energy and mood to keep up with the demands of modern life.
The average life expectancy in the UK now stands at 79.1 years for males and 83 years for females, underlining the importance of securing the healthiest later life we can.
The charity adds: ‘By being active, you could have a sharper mind, better mood, a stronger heart, healthier metabolism, balance, and stronger bones. It can also help to prevent or delay the likelihood of developing a long-term condition. It all starts now, with your next move.’
How people in Gloucestershire can find their fitness and boost their wellbeing
Age UK Gloucestershire recommends a range of sports and activities for making the move to a more active life
For a healthier heart and better blood circulation, it suggests cardiovascular activity including cricket, cycling, running, swimming, and walking, which can bring a range of benefits from strength and flexibility, to balance and coordination
The charity also recommends resistance training – from boxing, CrossFit, and football, to mountaineering and Nordic walking – for improving muscular fitness, strength and endurance, bringing benefits including lower blood pressure, healthy cholesterol levels, and a mental health boost
For balance, it suggests badminton, bowls, tennis and table tennis for improving motor skills, joint control and agility; while for mood improvement, confidence, and focus, it recommends wellbeing activities like group exercise classes, dancing, and hiking
How to get involved with Act Now, Age Better in Gloucestershire
For more information about the activities Age UK Gloucestershire recommends to ‘age better, your way’, and the latest news about campaign activity in the county, service updates from the charity, and more ways to get involved, sign up to the charity’s Age Better e-Bulletin at ageuk.org.uk/gloucestershire/about-us/news/articles/2026/act-now-age-better
In partnership with Age UK Gloucestershire
| ageuk.org.uk/gloucestershire
Age UK Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Health & Wellbeing
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