There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it.
MARY WILSON LITTLE
Do you have plans for the second half of your life? If you are intending to age well, and enjoy your leisure, it’s important that you should get organised. A charity called ‘The Second Half Centre’ was set up in London in January 2013 to promote better ageing for all. The Centre (founded by Jill Shaw Ruddock and located in the NHS St Charles’ Centre for Wellbeing) is based on the premise that as we’re all living longer, soon reaching the age of 100 will be the norm. But how well we age is up to each individual. The purpose of the centre is to help people who want to stay well and stave off age-related diseases. Keeping active mentally and physically is the best way forward. Whether you enjoy art history, needlepoint, gardening or jujitsu, you will find an activity at The Second Half Centre to suit you, and at an affordable price. Oldies in the area should be kicking down the doors to cross this threshold, as it combines an unfogeyish club, community centre and further education college.
(Source: Modern Life – The Oldie, April 2013)
With regard to our new-found leisure in retirement, anti-ageing strategies vary considerably. Some of us might read about them while sitting in our armchair and spend the next few months thinking or researching carefully before committing ourselves. Others might feel impelled immediately to get up and involved with enthusiasm. Despite the wide range of our age, state of health and depth of pockets, it is really important for us, the over-55s, to find leisure activities that will help us enjoy a long and happy retirement.
Top tips for ageing well. Some people use a five-a-day plan:
Whatever you feel about it, ageing well and making the most of our leisure is up to each of us and a vital part of enjoying our retirement. Here are plenty of suggestions for you if your ‘Second Half of Life’ planning needs a nudge. This chapter is best read in conjunction with Chapter 14, Holidays, as many of the organizations listed there would be equally relevant here. However, those that appear in Chapter 14 would probably involve most people spending a few days away from home. The latest information is always available on the relevant website, so do check there for further details.
Whether you cherish the hope of taking a degree, learn about computing, studying philosophy or archaeology, opportunities for education abound, and there are scores of subjects easily available to everyone, regardless of age or previous qualifications. Not all educational courses are free, however there are a number of different funding options available for those over 50. Those who have never taken any form of educational course through a university or college may also be able to obtain financial assistance. Where to find help? Agencies such as Saga, AgeUK and LaterLife will supply information on free and subsidized educational courses. Local libraries are another place to find information on educational matters.
Learning new skills is always beneficial and can lead to new opportunities. Many retired people have actually found new careers in later life. Here are some websites for available courses throughout the UK:
Adult Education Finder: www.adulteducationfinder.co.uk.
BBC Learning: www.bbc.co.uk/learning/adults.
Home Learning College: www.homelearningcollege.com.
National Extension College (NEC): www.nec.ac.uk.
National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE): www.niace.org.uk.
Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODLQC): www.odlqc.org.uk.
Open University (OU): www.open.ac.uk.
Pearson’s Love to Learn: www.lovetolearn.co.uk.
University extra-mural departments – non-degree and short courses
Many universities have a department of extra-mural studies that arranges courses for adults, sometimes in the evening or during vacation periods. If you live near a university, ask there, but here are a few websites to check:
Birkbeck, University of London: www.bbk.ac.uk.
U3A (The University of the Third Age): www.u3a.org.uk.
Workers’ Educational Association (WEA): www.wea.org.uk.
If you are an animal lover, it is likely that you already have connections with charities and organizations that relate to your favourite animals, but here are some suggestions, which include online publications:
Birdlife International Community: www.birdlife.org.
British Beekeepers Association: www.bbka.org.uk.
Your Cat magazine: www.yourcat.co.uk.
Dogs Monthly magazine: www.dogsmonthly.co.uk.
Horse and Hound magazine: www.horseandhound.co.uk.
RSPCA: www.rspca.org.uk
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT): www.wwt.org.uk.
Wherever you live you can enjoy the arts. Whether you are interested in active participation or just appreciating the performance of others, there is an exhilarating choice of events. Many entertainments offer concessionary prices to retired people.
The Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich everyone’s lives. For information and details of each regional office, see website: www.artscouncil.org.uk.
If you’re passionate about the creative arts, you can study with the specialists. For courses ranging from art history, creative writing, fine art, illustration, graphic design, music, painting, photography, textiles and visual communications, see the Open College of Arts website: www.oca-uk.com.
For those who wish to join in with amateur arts activities, most public libraries keep lists of choirs, drama clubs, painting clubs and similar in their locality.
Films
Cinema is a hugely popular art form and should you enjoy film, you could join your community cinema, local film society or visit the National Film Theatre. Here are some other websites to look at:
British Federation of Film Societies (BFFS): www.bffs.org.uk.
British Film Institute (BFI): www.bfi.org.uk.
Music and ballet
You might consider becoming a Friend and supporting one of the famous ‘Houses’ such as Covent Garden, or prefer music making in your own right; whatever your taste, here are some suggestions:
Covent Garden: www.roh.org.uk.
English National Opera (ENO): www.eno.org.
Sadler’s Wells: www.sadlerswells.com.
Scottish National Opera: www.scottishopera.org.uk.
Southbank Centre: www.southbankcentre.co.uk.
Welsh National Opera: www.wno.org.uk.
Whatever style of music you enjoy, there are associations to suit your taste.
Handbell Ringers of Great Britain: www.hrgb.org.uk.
Making Music: www.makingmusic.org.uk.
National Association of Choirs: www.nationalassociationofchoirs.org.uk.
Society of Recorder Players: www.srp.org.uk.
Poetry
There is an increasing enthusiasm for poetry and poetry readings in clubs, pubs and other places of entertainment. Special local events may be advertised in your neighbourhood. The Poetry Society is a charitable organization providing support and information and aims to create a central position for poetry in the arts. See www.poetrysociety.org.uk.
Television and radio audiences
People of all ages, backgrounds and abilities enjoy participating as members of studio audiences and contributors to programmes. For those wishing to take part there are a couple of websites that can help:
Applause Store: www.applausestore.com.
BBC Shows: www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/tickets.
Theatre
For all keen theatregoers, details of current and forthcoming productions for national and regional theatres, as well as theatre reviews, are well advertised in the press and on the internet. Preview performances are usually cheaper, and there are often concessionary tickets for matinees. Here are some useful websites:
ATG Tickets: www.atgtickets.com.
Barbican: www.barbican.org.uk.
Donmar Warehouse: www.donmarwarehouse.com.
National Theatre: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk.
National Theatre of Wales: www.nationaltheatrewales.org.
Official London Theatre: www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk.
Scottish Community Drama Association (SCDA): www.scda.org.uk.
Theatre Network: www.uktheatre.net.
The Old Vic: www.oldvictheatre.com.
TKTS: www.tkts.co.uk.
Visual arts
Attending exhibitions and lectures, if you enjoy art, is something you should have more time for in retirement. Some of the following art societies offer a good choice of such activities:
Art Fund: www.artfund.org.
Contemporary Art Society: www.contemporaryartsociety.org.
National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS): www.nadfas.org.uk.
Royal Academy of Arts: www.royalacademy.org.uk.
Tate: www.tate.org.uk.
Painting as a hobby
If you are interested in improving your own painting technique, art courses are available at your local adult education institute. Your library may have details of local art groups and societies in your area. The Society for All Artists (SAA), which exists to inform, encourage and inspire all who want to paint, whatever their ability, provides all that you need to enjoy this hobby: www.saa.co.uk.
With the constant advance of new technology, computing is one of the most popular classes for retired people. In most cases, learning these skills is completely free. Local libraries have set times throughout the week for retired people to either learn computing skills or update skills they already have. The plus point of learning skills such as the internet is that it can lead on to other free learning applications. There is a huge range of free learning resources available on the internet, if you know where to look. Here are a few possibilities:
Digital Unite: www.aboutacademy.digitalunite.com.
Pearson’s Love to Learn: www.lovetolearn.co.uk.
Which? Guides have four Made Easy titles to help you understand computers and the internet; step-by-step guides you can trust: Internet Made Easy for the Over-50s; Using your PC Made Easy; Laptops and Mobile Devices Made Easy; PC Problem Solving Made Easy. See website: www.which.co.uk/books.
The majority of suggestions are contained in Chapter 14, Holidays, variously under ‘Arts and crafts’ and ‘Special interest holidays’, since many organizations offer residential courses and painting holidays. If you are interested in a particular form of craft work many of the societies and others listed in Chapter 14 should be able to help you. Here are a couple more:
Crafts Council: www.craftscouncil.org.uk.
Open College of the Arts (OCA): www.oca-uk.com.
It is said that there is a book in everyone, and many retired people have a yen to write. As this is a solitary occupation you may find that joining a writing group is a worthwhile and pleasurable thing to do. The National Association of Writing Groups – www.nawg.co.uk – is one place to find a local one; though not all creative writing groups are linked to that site. Whatever the style, creative writing groups provide company, support and a degree of critique too. Some specialize, but many take fiction, non-fiction and poetry in their stride, so you can write anything from an essay to an article, from a rant to a novel – and, who knows, you might even get published and earn some money.
If any of this interests you, something else to check is Writing Magazine. This is a monthly journal designed to help aspiring and actual writers. Patrick Forsyth (a many-times-published Kogan Page author) writes regularly for that magazine, and is a great fan of writing groups. ‘They are,’ he says, ‘if not essential, a very great help to those who love to write, but lack confidence, want a bit of advice, support or motivation. I certainly recommend you give attendance a go. Getting published in not easy, and it is said that the single word that best describes a writer with no persistence is unpublished. But it is possible and seeing a book or article with your name on, and having it followed by a cheque, is very satisfying.’ Patrick knows; one of his recently published books, a hilarious critique of inappropriate public writing, is called Empty when Half Full.
Clubs, classes and groups exist in all parts of the country offering ballroom, old-time, Scottish, folk, ballet, disco dancing and others. Additionally, there are music and relaxation classes, aerobics and more gentle keep-fit sessions. To find out what is available in your area, ask at your library, or see the list below (there are further suggestions in Chapter 13, Health, ‘Keep fit’):
British Dance Council: www.british-dance-council.org.
English Folk Dance and Song Society: www.efdss.org.
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing: www.istd.org.
Keep Fit Association (KFA): www.keepfit.org.uk.
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society: www.rscds.org.
Sport and Recreation Alliance: www.sportandrecreation.org.uk.
Many local areas have their own backgammon, bridge, chess, whist, dominos, Scrabble and other groups that meet together regularly in a club, hall, pub or other social venue to enjoy friendly board games. Information on any local clubs should be available from your library. Here are some national organizations which will put you in touch with local groups:
Boardgame Players Association: www.boardgamers.org.
English Bridge Union: www.ebu.co.uk.
English Chess Federation: www.englishchess.org.uk.
Scrabble Clubs UK: www.absp.org.uk.
Courses, gardens to visit, special help for people with disabilities, and how to run a gardening association; these and other interests are all catered for by the following organizations:
English Gardening School: www.englishgardeningschool.co.uk.
Garden Organic: www.gardenorganic.org.uk.
Gardening for Disabled Trust: www.gardeningfordisabledtrust.org.uk.
National Gardens Scheme: www.ngs.org.uk.
National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners Ltd: www.nsalg.org.uk.
Royal Horticultural Society: www.rhs.org.uk.
Scotland’s Gardens Scheme: www.scotlandsgardens.org.
Thrive: www.thrive.org.uk.
Welsh Historic Gardens Trust (WHGT): www.whgt.org.uk.
People with an interest in the past have so many activities to choose from – visit historic monuments, including ancient castles and stately homes, in all parts of the country; explore the City of London; study genealogy or research the history of your local area. There are many organizations to consider, but here are a few websites to give you some ideas:
Age Exchange: www.age-exchange.org.uk.
Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland: www.ahss.org.uk.
British Association for Local History: www.balh.co.uk.
City of London Information Centre: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.
English Heritage: www.english-heritage.org.uk.
Federation of Family History Societies: www.ffhs.org.uk.
Garden History Society: www.gardenhistorysociety.org.
Georgian Group: www.georgiangroup.org.uk.
Historic Houses Association (HHA): www.hha.org.uk.
Historical Association: www.history.org.uk.
Monumental Brass Society: www.mbs-brasses.co.uk.
National Trust: www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
National Trust for Scotland: www.nts.org.uk.
Northern Ireland Tourist Board: www.discovernorthernireland.com.
Oral History Society: www.ohs.org.uk.
Society of Genealogists: www.sog.org.uk.
Victorian Society: www.victorian-society.org.uk.
There are a growing number of magazines dedicated to the over-50s with articles and features on topics that include health, travel, finances and lifestyle. Here are some of the most popular, a number of these publications are available online:
50 Plus Magazine: www.50plusmagazine.co.uk.
55 Life Scotland: www.55life.co.uk.
Giddy Limits: www.giddylimits.co.uk.
Healthylife: www.healthylife-mag.co.uk.
Laterlife: www.laterlife.com.
Mature Times: www.maturetimes.co.uk.
Over 65 Magazine: www.over65magazine.co.uk.
Retirement Today: www.retirement-today.co.uk.
Savista Magazine: www.savistamagazine.com.
The Oldie: www.the.oldie.magazine.co.uk
Third Age: www.thirdage.co.uk.
YOURS Magazine: www.yours.co.uk
Most museums organize free lectures and guided tours on aspects of their collections or special exhibitions. If you join as a Friend, you can enjoy certain advantages, such as access to private views, visits to places of interest, receptions and other social activities. Apart from the famous national museums, there are many fascinating smaller ones to be found around the country, depending on your area of interest. Enjoy your research, but here are a few useful websites to start you off:
British Association of Friends of Museums (BAFM): www.bafm.org.uk.
Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology: www.ashmolean.org.
British Museum: www.britishmuseum.org.
Fitzwilliam Museum: www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk.
National Museums of Scotland: www.nms.ac.uk.
Natural History Museum: www.nhm.ac.uk.
Royal Museums Greenwich: www1.rmg.co.uk.
Science Museum: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk.
V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum): www.vam.ac.uk.
Many conservation organizations are very keen to recruit volunteers; the majority are therefore listed in Chapter 12, Voluntary work. Also many of those concerned with field studies arrange courses and other special activity interests where there is usually a residential content, so more are listed in Chapter 14, Holidays. Here are a few that don’t appear elsewhere in this book:
Field Studies Council: www.field-studies-council.org.
Forestry: www.forestry.gov.uk.
Inland Waterways Association: www.waterways.org.uk.
Wildlife Trusts: www.wildlifetrusts.org.
The public library in the UK is an endangered species and needs your support. Library services that are run by local authorities provide free services that empower people to access resources. Libraries still fulfil their traditional role of lending books, but also improve people’s lives through a whole range of activities and services. The UK library service is a huge resource, which not only lends millions of books free each year, but also CDs and DVDs. Most are now equipped with the internet, so visitors can browse websites and do research. One of its traditional main attractions is as a source of masses of information about both local and national activities. Additionally, there are reference sections containing newspapers and periodicals as well as a wide selection of reference books covering any subject.
The UK’s public library service is excellent – please help to keep it going by using your local facilities.
Sciences and other related subjects
If astronomy, meteorology or geology fascinate you, there are several societies and associations that may be of interest:
British Astronomical Association: www.britastro.org.
Geologists’ Association: www.geologistsassociation.org.uk.
Royal Meteorological Society: www.rmets.org.
Whether your special enthusiasm is stamp collecting or model flying, most of the associations listed organize events, answer queries and can put you in contact with kindred spirits:
British Association of Numismatic Societies (BANS): www.coinclubs.freeserve.co.uk.
British Model Flying Association (BMFA): www.bmfa.org.
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers (CCCBR): www.cccbr.org.uk.
Miniature Armoured Fighting Vehicle Association (MAFVA): www.mafva.net.
National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS): www.nafas.org.uk.
National Philatelic Society: www.ukphilately.org.uk.
Railway Correspondence and Travel Society: www.rcts.org.uk.
Retirement is an ideal time to get fit and take up a sporting hobby. To find out about opportunities in your area, contact your local authority recreational department or your local sports or leisure centre. In addition, here are some relevant websites:
Angling
Whether you are an experienced angler, or are thinking of taking up fishing as a hobby, this sport offers a wide variety of opportunities. Particularly good news for women whose pheromones apparently attract fish onto their rods….
Angling Trust: www.anglingtrust.net.
UK Fishing: www.ukfishing.com.
Badminton
Badminton is a popular sport for all ages. Most people play it for leisure but it can be competitive as well as keeping you fit. For more information see:
Badminton England: www.badmintonengland.co.uk.
Play Badminton: www.playbadminton.co.uk.
Bowling
Bowls is enjoyed by millions of people throughout the world and the vast majority of them are over 50. The game of bowls comes in a variety of forms: Crown Green Bowls, Lawn Bowls, Short Mat Bowls and Carpet Bowls. For further information:
British Crown Green Bowling Association: www.crowngreenbowls.org.
English Bowling Association: www.bowlsengland.com.
English Indoor Bowling Association: www.eiba.co.uk.
English Short Mat Bowling Association: www.esmba.co.uk.
Clay pigeon shooting
Clay pigeon shooting is enjoyed by people from 9 years to 90, of either sex.
It is a hobby that can provide great personal fulfilment on an informal basis, or in a more organized and competitive fashion.
Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA): www.cpsa.co.uk.
Clay Shooting: www.englishsportingclays.co.uk.
The Big Shoot: www.thebigshoot.co.uk.
Cricket
There are lots of different playing opportunities for all ages and abilities, such as club cricket, indoor cricket and new shorter formats of the game. If playing is not for you, there are many places to watch matches:
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB): www.ecb.co.uk.
Kia Oval – Surrey County Cricket Club: www.kiaoval.com.
Lord’s Cricket Ground: www.lords.org.
Croquet
Croquet has been popular in England since it was first introduced in 1851 at The Great Exhibition. It can be played as a recreational pastime or competitive sport. See:
Croquet Association: www.croquet.org.uk.
Cycling
If you want to get into cycling, either for leisure or as a competitor, there are plenty of ways into the sport.
British Cycling: www.britishcycling.org.uk.
CTC (Cyclists’ Touring Club): www.ctc.org.uk.
Road Cycling UK (RCUK): www.roadcyclinguk.com.
UK Cycling Events: www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk.
Darts
As well as being a professional competitive sport, darts is also a traditional pub game. Today it is played by over 6 million people regularly, and watched by millions on television.
British Darts Organisation (BDO): www.bdodarts.com.
Golf
National Golf Unions can provide information about municipal courses and private clubs, of which there are some 1,700 in England alone. Additionally, many adult education institutes and sports centres run classes for beginners.
England Golf: www.englandgolf.org.
Golfing Union of Ireland: www.gui.ie.
Scottish Golf: www.scottishgolf.org.
Welsh Golfing Union: www.golfunionwales.org.
Running
Regardless of age, fitness level, aspiration, background or location, running is good for you. There are many benefits so why not become one of the UK’s running community. To help get you started, here are a few websites:
ARC (Association of Running Clubs): www.runningclubs.org.uk.
Good Run Guide: www.goodrunguide.co.uk.
Run England: www.runengland.org.
Runners Forum: www.runnersforum.co.uk.
Did you know that over 450 people in the UK die from drowning each year. Swimming is the only sport that can save your life. Whether you are a beginner, seasoned-swimmer, or planning to make a return to the pool after years (or decades) away, the following website will give you lots of information.
British Swimming: www.swimming.org.
Table tennis
Table tennis is a cheap and accessible sport, played by 2.4 million people in the UK. For people of all ages and abilities, table tennis clubs provide the best place to learn and play the sport.
English Table Tennis: www.englishtabletennis.org.uk.
Veterans English Table Tennis Society: www.vetts.org.uk.
Tennis
Tennis is enjoyed by millions of recreational players, including seniors, and is also a hugely popular worldwide spectator sport.
International Tennis Federation: www.ifttennis.com.
Lawn Tennis Association: www.lta.org.uk.
Veterans’ Lawn Tennis Club of Great Britain: www.vltcofgb.org.uk.
Veteran rowing
Rowing has enthusiasts aged from 31 to well past 80. Since 2010 ‘veteran’ rowers have been known as ‘Masters’. There has also been a change in the lower age so that rowers from 27 to over 80 can now compete in Masters events. See:
British Rowing: www.britishrowing.org.
Walking is an excellent form of exercise which can keep you fit, active and improve your mental health. Walking can also help you recover from illness as well as prevent it.
Ramblers’ Association: www.ramblers.org.uk.
Windsurfing
Windsurfing as an activity in middle age can lead to a more active, healthier and happier old age. If you need a bit of encouragement to enjoy the challenge of windsurfing, see:
Seavets (Senior and Veteran Windsurfers Association): www.seavets.co.uk.
Yachting
If you want to try sailing to see if you like it, there are ways to go without any major financial commitment. Your nearest sailing club may be able to arrange a trial sail, or you could try a water sports holiday.
New To Sailing: www.newtosailing.com.
Royal Yachting: www.rya.org.uk.
Facilities for the disabled have improved dramatically recently. Here are some sporting organizations which cater specifically for the disabled.
British Blind Sport: www.britishblindsport.org.uk.
British Disabled Fencing Association (BDFA): www.bdfa.org.uk.
British Wheelchair Sport: www.wheelpower.org.uk.
Disabled Skiing UK: www.disabilitysnowpsort.org.uk.
English Federation of Disability Sport: www.efds.co.uk.
UK Deaf Sport: www.ukdeafsport.org.uk.
Here are some women’s clubs and organizations that are enormously popular:
Association of Inner Wheel Clubs UK: www.associationofinnerwheelclubs.
Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland: www.wini.org.uk.
Mothers’ Union (MU): www.themothersunion.org.
National Association of Women’s Clubs: www.nawc.org.uk.
National Women’s Register (NWR): www.nwr.org.uk.
Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes (SWRI): www.swri.org.uk.
Townswomen: www.townswomen.org.uk.
Women’s Institute (WI): www.thewi.org.uk.