Maidenhead & Windsor

Over 50s in the Maidenhead Royal Borough are smiling all the way to better health, thanks to a nationally-applauded project that makes fitness fun.

SMILE – So Much Improvement from a Little Exercise – is celebrating three years of activity for older Maidenhead residents, having grown from 12 locations and 100 users a week in 2003 to 28 sessions and more than 450 users in 2006.

A report to next week's cabinet (Thursday September 21) shows that SMILE-ers have recorded an average:
· reduction in blood pressure from 142/81mmHg to 122/78mmHg
· reduction in resting heart rate of 11bpm and
· increase in height of 4 cms – the result of better posture.

Cllr Richard Fagence, lead member for Maidenhead leisure and cultural services, said he had visited SMILE events on many occasions and was always impressed by their energy and vitality.

He added: "The number and variety of activities is not only thanks to council staff and more than 40 volunteers but also to the enthusiasm of the people who attend SMILE meetings and events across the borough. SMILE is a tremendous success and it small wonder that it was applauded nationally as a shining example of its kind in the country. As an over-50 myself I'm just sorry I don't have more time to join in!"

Started in 2003 with £90,000 of funding through a Local Public Service Agreement*, SMILE was originally an exercise programme to promote fitness and good health. Now is it so successful that its members have established a SMILE club with its own constitution to raise funds and organise social events in parallel to the exercise programme.

In the 2004/05 Maidenhead social services inspection report SMILE was cited as an example of best practice and was accepted by the Rowntree Foundation as one of the best 13 projects in the country for contributing to the promotion of independent lifestyles for older people. It has also been accepted as a Tick Tock project with £20,000 match funding for work to encourage volunteering and employment in the over-50s age group.

Events have included a VE Day anniversary celebration in 2005 with 500 guests, a Christmas party for more than 450 and a May Day tea dance for 450. More than 100 people attended the annual general meeting and 80 went on the SMILE outing to the Thames Traditional Boat Rally at Henley.

The next big event is the Musical Extravaganza in the Magnet leisure Centre, Maidenhead, on Sunday October 8. Starting at 2pm there will be music from school bands and come-and -try-it sessions with steel and bhangra dancing, flag making, table decoration and line dancing. Dinner will be at 5pm (with music by a string quartet). The second session starts at 6pm, featuring a tea dance followed by a sing-along with Charles Luxford. Tickets are currently available free by calling 01628 685612

Future funding of SMILE from 2008 is to be investigated through the setting up of a Local Area Agreement – an agreement between the government and the local area to provide services that communities need.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead