Telford's Celebration of Age festival launch draws 250 people
Hundreds of mature residents showed off their talents at a new Telford festival.
The new Celebration of Age festival is running a programme of events senior citizens at venues across the borough this week.
It is being hailed a success after it was launched to encourage older residents to take part in more activities and share the things they love to do with others.
Celebration of Age was launched at The Place, in Oakengates, on Monday to mark the United Nations International Day of Older Persons on October 1.
The festival features more than 70 activities including exercise classes, knitting, woodwork, dancing, art and drumming workshops.
Lynne Carney, project officer for the Senior Citizens Forum, said: "The launch event for the festival went really well. We had a really busy day with about 250 people there. Some came with a group that they already belonged to, but they joined in with the other activities. The main hall at the theatre was full for the whole day.
"There were all sorts of things to do, various exercise workshops including yoga and drumming. It was a very positive atmosphere and was very good.
"The festival programme continues all this week with all sorts of things happening a various venues. I would encourage more people to go along to try something new."
The Celebration of Age festival which is being run iun partnership with several community bodies including Wrekin Housing Trust and Men's Shed will run until Friday across Telford and Wrekin.
She said there are plans to repeat the festival next year when the organisers hoped to attract even more residents.
The full programme is available at local libraries or on the website www.celebratingagetelford.uk or by phoning 07552 975676.
"We also want to hear your stories, and to share your experiences and are inviting people to post photographs of themselves doing something they love to encourage more people to do more, not less, as they age,” Ms Carney added.
