Staying active and healthy
There are plenty of opportunities in Haringey for you to enjoy, many of which are free.
This section contains ideas and useful links to help older people in Haringey stay fit and active.
- Sport and fitness
- Leisure and entertainment
- Lifelong learning
- Haringey Circle
- Pensioners Action Group
- Volunteering
- Support for ex-service men and women
You can search for other activities and things to do on Haricare.
Sport and fitness
Physical activity is crucial for good health
NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) recommends that everyone participates in at least 30 minutes activity, 5 days week.
Physical activity doesn't just mean going to the gym. You can play sport, dance, go for a swim, or a walk, or take up gardening.
Over 65? Use our leisure centres for free
Visit our fitness for older people page for information on free leisure centre membership and activities you can join.
Search for Fitness and exercise activities on Haricare.
Enjoying the outdoors
Haringey has more than 600 acres of parks, recreation grounds and open spaces and has achieved Green Flag status for seven of our parks - the highest awarded to a London borough! The parks Friends Groups play a major role in achieving and maintaining these high standards.
To get around on public transport make sure you have your Freedom Pass. The pass is available to Haringey residents aged 60 or over and gives free travel or reduced fares on most public transport in London after 9.00am weekdays (9.30am on most National Rail Services within the London region) and all day at weekends and public holidays.
See also:
Leisure and entertainment
There’s always something to do in Haringey. The following links will help give you some ideas of what to do with your free time:
- What’s on In Haringey (search for events)
- Cinemas
- Theatres
- Music
- Comedy
- Galleries
- Restaurants
- Places to Visit
- Local History and archives
- Arts and Crafts on Haricare
- Drama and Music on Haricare
- Entertainment And Leisure on Haricare
Libraries
Haringey has nine libraries and a housebound library service. It is free to join and they offer a range of services including borrow books, videos, DVDs, CDs and cassettes, events, exhibitions and drop-in sessions. Silver Surfers computer sessions provide an introduction to computers and the Internet for people over 50. They are currently available at four libraries. As they are very popular, it is important to book your session in advance. Libraries are also good places to find out about other local activities such as walking groups, reading groups and more. Ask in your local library for more details.
Tape and Braille services
Your local library can also put you in touch with the Calibre Audio Library, the Royal National Institute of the Blind’s Talking Book and Braille Libraries, Listening Books, the National Library for the Blind and the Clear Vision Braille/Print Library.
RNIB Newsagent (external link) provides national and local newspapers and magazines on CD, USB and online for visually impaired and disabled people who find reading a strain.
Lifelong learning
- Haringey Adult Learning Service (HALS) offers community courses for adults, ICT, family learning and English for speakers of other languages. Courses range from Tai Chi to IT.
- HALS Open Learning Centres can be found at Wood Green Central Library and Marcus Garvey Library
- College of North East London (external link) provides a wide range of courses, including adult reading classes and help with reading and writing.
- University of the Third Age (U3A) (external link) is run by and for the people who take part. Activities take place in a relaxed atmosphere and could include classes, talks, study trips and film screenings. Meetings are the first Wednesday of every month, 12.45 at Wood Green Library. For information contact Alison 01992 441 613 or email alison76yrsnunes@btinternet.com
- Collage Arts (external link) is the main arts development organisation in the borough. It runs a range of creative courses open to everyone. New programmes are put together on a regular basis so contact them for up-to-date information.
- Search for learning opportunities on Haricare
Haringey Circle
Haringey Circle is a membership-based programme open to anyone over the age of 50 in Haringey. They provide activities and events to help over 50s in Haringey to connect, get active, keep learning, and to stay independent. To find out more, contact Haringey Circle via one of the options available below:
- Web: Haringey Circle (external link)
- Call: 020 3196 1894
- Email: hello@haringeycircle.com
Pensioners Action Group
Tottenham and Wood Green Pensioners action group.
They meet on the second Tuesday of every month from 1.30pm at: Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, 1 Philip Lane, Tottenham, N15 4JA.
Events include:
- Speakers at meetings
- Trips during the year, including four day trips away to various sea side resorts
- Tea parties twice a year
- Grand Christmas party
They are a very active group with over 350 members.
Volunteering
Helping to make a difference
- Want to meet new people?
- Want to put something into your community?
- Want to learn a new skill or do something different?
Then the following organisations can help you:
- Haringey Volunteer Centre - Bridge Renewal Trust (external link) can provide information on opportunities for volunteering and local services.
- Reach Volunteering (external link) matches the skills of experienced people to the needs of voluntary organisations.
- Search for Volunteering on Haricare
Support for ex-service men and women
- Veteran's Gateway (external link) The first point of contact for veterans seeking support.
- Royal British Legion (external link) provides financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, and their dependants.
- Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) (external link) is a welfare advisory service for families of service and ex-service men and women.
- The Royal Star and Garter Home (external link) for disabled ex-service men and women. It offers nursing care and rehabilitation for anyone who is physically disabled or incapacitated and has served in the Forces.
- Women’s Royal Army Corp Association (external link) is open to all women who have served in the Army, including the ATS or WRAC.
- Confederation of Service Charities Members' directory (external link) provides contact details for charities providing support for people who served in every part of the Armed Forces.