91福利社

How important is it to be fit and how can you enjoy an active life as you get older here in Jersey? How early should you start to get fit for life?

These are some of the questions we're being asked to consider as the government prepares a strategy for the way the island will look in almost 30 years time.

Springfield Stadium

91福利社 Jersey's Sarah Scriven visited Springfield stadium in search of the answers. It has exercise classes and sports including badminton for the over 50s.

As well as the man responsible for putting on activities and events at Springfield, Sarah spoke to a badminton player about what makes her want to stay in shape.

She told us 鈥淚 think, when you鈥檙e on your own you need to get out and do a lot of exercise and meet people. If you just stay at home time can drag on.

鈥淚 started doing a lot of [exercise] after I was widowed and the children had gone so you have to enjoy your life.

鈥淲hen the children were small there wasn't time to go out and do your own things, you had to do things with them. It was really later in life I took them up really.鈥�

When asked about attitudes to health and fitness she said "I think you've got more time and there are far more opportunities to do these things now. When mine were small my husband felt I should be at home but when you鈥檙e on your own you can choose what to do.鈥�

Sarah looked in on a keep fit class for the Over Fifties where Frank Garret, Jersey's sports development officer, told her what's happening at Springfield.

The gym has become Stuart's second home

"Most people have been fairly active, either with their children or whatever early on in life but by the age of about fifty it鈥檚 easy to stop exercising.

"We feel it is important to continue and that鈥檚 why we've put these sorts of programmes on to encouraged people and give them the option of doing different things."

But it鈥檚 not just the over fifties being encouraged to get more excersize in Jersey. Children in Jersey are being urged to exercise with their grandparents.

It's one way the sports authorities hope young people will learn to be fit for life.

Frank Garret, Jersey's sports development officer, says young people can learn from their elders how to be active for life.

"If children in enjoy exercising with granddad or grandma or grandma and grandad and do a cycle ride or do a swim with them then its all part of the family unit I think, and its fun isn't it."

The States run fitness programmes for the over Fifties, including swimming, keep fit and badminton classes.

Tomorrow we'll be asking senior citizens how they think Jersey should be planning for the future.