FitLine is a volunteer-led telephone mentoring service that supports people aged 50 and over to be more active. It is designed to help people who want to feel healthier but don’t have the motivation, confidence or information to get moving.
“We are launching a call-out for FitLine participants,” says Meg Hegarty, FitLine coordinator with Age & Opportunity’s Active Programme. “It’s a nationwide initiative that has supported many people to date and we’re excited to be growing FitLine.
“If you sign up as a FitLine participant you will receive regular calls from our friendly volunteers who understand the challenges of getting active. They will discuss your life situation and preferences and can offer suggestions to encourage you to be more active.”
Feedback from FitLine participants has been resoundingly positive.
“It’s very nice that someone calls. It does encourage me to do more,” says Anne in Carlow.
“It’s going well. My mentor is very good and interested. By working with him, it gives me more incentive,” says Niall in Louth.
“The calls do encourage me. If I’m inclined to get lazy, it encourages me because I want to be ready to tell my mentor a whole lot of things that I’ve done,” says Moira in Dublin.
FitLine is a free initiative of Age & Opportunity, a national organisation that provides a range of opportunities for older people who want to get more involved in arts and culture, sport and physical activity, civic engagement and personal development. FitLine is an initiative within Age & Opportunity’s Active programme, funded by Sport Ireland and the HSE.
If you are interested in joining FitLine as a participant, or if you work with others (for example as a GP, physiotherapist, social prescriber ) and you would like to refer someone with their agreement, call FitLine on freephone 1800 303 545 or email [email protected].
