Older Mens Physical Wellbeing Programme 2026

Aim

A new rural fitness and walk & talk programme helping older men get active, improve health, and return to sport after years of inactivity.

Who are we?

Our group is called Tyrone Strong Together and we created the group in late 2024, and we are a voluntary, community fully constituted group providing health and wellbeing programmes for people living in Omagh and the surrounding rural areas. We have just completed 1 full year which was a steep learning curve for us, but one that was very enjoyable. Our purpose is to offer accessible initiatives that support the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of local people, while ensuring all programmes are inclusive and free for all. We work with groups who often face barriers to participation, including people with physical or mental ill health, those with mobility challenges, older adults, isolated young people, hard to reach teenagers, children, and individuals experiencing loneliness. 

Our aim is to reduce isolation, strengthen community connections, and create opportunities for people to engage in positive, supportive activities. Some recent programmes we have delivered has been a "walk and talk" programme once per week for 6 weeks, and a mens mental health conference during mens mental health month in November just past. We work to make health and wellbeing education easy to access by providing safe, welcoming spaces where people of all ages and backgrounds can stay active, learn about healthy lifestyles, and build social connections. We also encourage community involvement by offering volunteering and informal skill building opportunities, helping individuals feel more confident and engaged in local life. Since forming, we have seen clear improvements in the wellbeing and confidence of the people we support across the Omagh area.

 Participants include older adults, individuals with long term health issues, isolated young people, and families seeking additional support. Although still early days, our work continues to grow in response to the needs of these groups. Tyrone Together is supported by a voluntary committee and a team with practical experience in community support. This includes a local fitness instructor, an addiction counsellor, a teacher, and a youth worker, each bringing knowledge that strengthens our programmes and ensures they are relevant to the needs of the area. 

Many community members have also taken part in planning or delivering activities, helping shape a stronger, more inclusive local network. Examples of past and current initiatives include wellbeing activities such as yoga, mindfulness, and group-based social sessions for isolated residents. We are also developing further initiatives to support men’s mental health more as noted, and encourage engagement among groups who may find it difficult to access mainstream services.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We are Crowdfunding to deliver a new weekly fitness programme for older men living in rural Tyrone outside Omagh who are inactive or have disengaged from sport due to age, health concerns, confidence, or isolation. 

The programme will run from late January to end of March for 10 weeks.

Feedback from our men’s wellbeing work to date shows many older men feel mainstream sport and gyms are no longer accessible or suitable for them. This new innovative programme is designed to remove those barriers and re introduce physical activity in a safe, supportive, and social way.

Fundraising will allow us to deliver weekly exercise sessions with a qualified fitness instructor. Activities will take place in a local gym and outdoor rural locations including Gortin Glens Forest Park, An Creggan, Mullaharan Mountain, and Bessy Bell Mountain. 

Using these familiar local rural assets will help participants build confidence and routine, encouraging them to continue exercising independently after the programme ends. 

The outdoor walking element also promotes no cost physical activity, supporting both physical and financial wellbeing by reducing reliance on paid facilities.

Week by Week Programme Outline

• Week 1 & 2 Late Jan start: Introduction, baseline fitness checks, light gym session, goal setting
• Week 3: Gym based strength and mobility for beginners
• Week 4: Light gym session then walk and talk session at Gortin Glens Forest Park
• Week 5: Gym session focusing on balance and joint health
• Week 6: Outdoor walk at An Creggan
• Week 7: Gym session focusing on stamina and confidence using equipment
• Week 8: Outdoor walk at Mullaharan Mountain
• Week 9 March: Final gym session
• Week 10 March: Final mountain walk Bessy Bell Mountain. progress review, and signposting to ongoing activity options

Sport NI Creating Opportunities

The project directly aligns with Sport NI Creating Opportunities by targeting an underrepresented and inactive group- Older Men living in a rural community outside Omagh, increasing participation in physical activity, improving health and wellbeing, and reducing inequalities linked to rural location and age. 

The programme will be free to attend, removing financial barriers, and will be promoted through local community groups to reach men who are socially isolated or have little or no previous involvement in sport.

Sport NI match funding of £5,000 (if we raise £5,000 as well) will support instructor costs, facility hire, insurance, equipment, and outreach. This will ensure a consistent, high quality programme that creates sustainable opportunities for older men to re engage with physical activity and community life.

How we’ll spend the money raised

If we raise £5,000 Sport NI will add £5,000 to the total. £10,000 funding will be used for the following:

- Fitness Instructor costs (2 coaches) over 10 weeks- £35 per hour (2 hours per gym session x 3 per week, and 4 hours walk sessions approx 60 hours total)= £4,200

- Facility Hire for 10 weeks @ £45 per hour x 42 hours of hire= £1,890

- Gym Equipment= RowErg x 2 @ £950 each= £1,900; Dumbbell Set & 3 tier weight rack @ £999 each x 2 = £1,998

Community impact

Tyrone Strong Together benefits the wider rural community by providing free, inclusive health and wellbeing programmes for people who often face barriers to participation. Our work supports older adults, men experiencing isolation, individuals with physical or mental ill health, young people who are disengaged, and families who struggle to access mainstream services due to cost, confidence, or location.

Rural isolation is a significant issue across our area. Many people lack transport, social connection, or suitable local opportunities to stay active. Our programmes are delivered locally, using familiar community spaces and outdoor assets, which makes participation more achievable and reduces reliance on paid facilities. By keeping all activities free, we remove financial barriers and ensure support reaches those who need it most.

While sport and physical activity are central to our work, the wider impact goes beyond fitness. Our sessions help reduce loneliness, improve mental wellbeing, and build routine and confidence. Group based activities encourage social interaction, peer support, and a sense of belonging, which is particularly important for older men and those living alone.

The spaces and facilities we use are community assets that serve multiple purposes. Gyms and outdoor locations used for our programmes are also used for social groups, education, walking groups, and informal community meet ups. This shared use strengthens local infrastructure and increases the value of existing resources.

We also create opportunities for volunteering and community involvement. Local people help shape, promote, and support our activities, building skills and confidence while strengthening community ties.

Overall, our organisation helps create healthier, more connected rural communities by making physical activity accessible, normal, and welcoming for people who might otherwise be left behind.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made