Around 15 people braved the cold at Buckhurst Community Field for the first Longevity Games community training session, taking part in everything from press-ups and planks to strength exercises under the basketball court’s floodlights.
The sessions, held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, are designed to make fitness accessible to everyone, regardless of age or ability, with a qualified personal trainer leading exercises that participants can tackle at their own pace.
Tim Howe, founder of Longevity Games, hopes the initiative can become a permanent fixture in Swindon’s communities.
“It’s our first longevity community training group here in Buckhurst, and part of the bigger picture is to get Swindon active and get Swindon the fittest town in the country,” he said.
“We need to help people and encourage people in the local community to get active in an environment that’s welcome.”
The project has secured initial funding until April 2027 through a ‘test and learn’ approach, giving organisers the opportunity to demonstrate demand before seeking longer-term support.
Tim said the ambition is to establish permanent twice-weekly sessions, eventually expanding into other parts of Swindon.
“I’m a big believer in word of mouth and recommendations. So talking to local community, talking to GPs, talking to Live Well teams, people in the community that want to help, and talk to people and get people involved in it more and more.”
He stressed that residents do not need to be particularly fit to take part.
“Your level. You do as intense and or as hard as you want to work. So if you want to work hard, you work hard. Everything’s at your own level. That’s why we’ve got a PT here running the session.”
The initiative is being supported by South Swindon Parish Council as part of the wider Get Swindon Active Active Places project, funded by Sport England.
Dan, representing the parish council, explained that funding has been allocated to support community organisations delivering activities in priority areas, including Walcot, Parks, Broadgreen and the Railway Village.
“This test and learn funding, really, we’re here to support community groups and organisations to do exactly what’s been happening here with the Longevity Games, community training,” he said.
The wider programme is also responding to feedback from young people, who have suggested activities including rounders, dodgeball and street hockey.
Although the broader partnership has funding for two years, those involved hope the activities can continue beyond that period.
Among those taking part in the first session was Councillor Mike Davies, who was recovering from a particularly demanding plank exercise.
“It’s really good. I’m pleased that how many people are here. It’s fantastic, and I’m very pleased that it’s not raining,” he said.
He believes the visibility of outdoor sessions could encourage others to join in.
“You see people doing it. Like if you could see it, you could be it, can’t you? And the lights are on. The floodlights are brilliant, and they can hear the music, and it’s really good.”
Another participant, Bob Buckley, was exercising with a 10kg medicine ball when he explained why he had come along.
“I think it’s just an amazing opportunity for Swindon to get everybody healthy and cut down on the cost in National Health Service and all those sorts of things,” he said.
“And I just think a free way of keeping fit and having the future generations of our town fitter is just too good an opportunity to miss.”
The wider Get Swindon Active partnership is led by Wiltshire and Swindon Sport and includes South Swindon Parish Council, Central Swindon North Parish Council, Swindon Borough Council and local volunteering partners.
An app is also being developed to allow participants to register their attendance and, as the initiative grows, access sessions in other locations.
For now, residents interested in taking part can simply turn up at Buckhurst Community Field on a Tuesday or Thursday evening, with everyone welcome to join in.
Session details confirmed: The free sessions run every Tuesday and Thursday, from 6pm to 7pm, at Buckhurst Basketball Court.
