The project submitted to the Foundation consisted in offering senior citizens the opportunity to participate in free Adapted Physical Activity (APA) sessions supervised by a certified coach from the Siel Bleu Association, with a view to promoting their social and physical inclusion, combating sedentary lifestyles and developing preventive health care.
We had a sports hall on our site Boulevard de Fourmies in Roubaix which is being finalized. It was obvious for us to organize these sessions at this location. It made our project so concrete by meeting directly with the beneficiaries.
By getting in touch with the Roubaix "Réseau de Confiance", which offers outreach activities to senior citizens, we met our future beneficiaries in December 2019 and started the sessions in January 2020. After consultation with the sports association, we found a weekly one-hour slot on Mondays from 10:45 to 11:45. To date there are 5 beneficiaries per session (including 1 man J), Aurélie the coach Siel Bleu and Marjorie, the project's godmother. We can still welcome a few more seniors. They will benefit from 42 free sessions.
Marjorie waits for them at the site reception on Monday morning and takes them to the gym. The sessions are based on balance, muscle strengthening and coordination exercises. The exercises can be done on a chair. Being in a small group is a real advantage which allows the coach to adapt the movements according to the physical condition of each beneficiary.
- A question for Marjorie: What links have you established with these beneficiaries, what does it bring?
Within a few weeks, the beneficiaries have found their bearings and feel reassured. They are happy to come and share this moment. Being more at ease, they are more willing to talk, they joke. They are always in a good mood, it's a real pleasure. With the confinement, our regular telephone exchanges have strengthened the bonds.
