Act Now, Age Better: Your Next Move

Getting older is a privilege, but one that can have many challenges. While we can’t prevent ageing, we can all take action to help us age in the best way possible.

New research released today as part of the Act Now, Age Better - Your Next Move campaign reveals that negative early PE experiences are one of the barriers stopping thousands of those aged 50-65 from being physically active. For many, this began decades ago, as 520,000 people aged 50-65 in Scotland used to dread school PE lessons.

The campaign, led by sister charity Age UK, encourages mid-lifers to be active so they can live their best possible later life. With 23% of mid-lifers in Scotland still feeling traumatised by PE lessons and 24% put off exercise and sport for life by PE at school, the world of sport, physical activity and movement is coming together to inspire and encourage mid‑lifers to give PE another go.

With sports groups now more inclusive, supportive and welcoming than they were 30-40 years ago, there’s never been a better time for mid-lifers to reconnect with fitness and find a community that truly embraces them.

That’s why Age Scotland is working with sporting partners, including Cricket Scotland and Pickleball Scotland, to help to bring sport back into people’s lives and help them find an activity that’s enjoyable and suits their lifestyle.

Despite the bad memories held by many, campaign research found that many in midlife across the UK do want to get moving. In terms of what would motivate them to get more active:

• One quarter (23%, equivalent to 3.3 million) said age-specific classes or groups
• One fifth (19%, equivalent to 2.6 million) said more beginner-only sessions
• Almost one in five (17%, equivalent to 2.3 million) said a more inclusive and welcoming feel to classes or groups
• Almost one in five (16%, equivalent to 2.3 million) said increased accessibility of classes or groups
• Almost one in five (16% equivalent to 2.3 million) said the potential to make new friends

With 5.9 million (42%) in the UK anxious about joining a sports group or class at their age, the campaign will showcase a wide range of sports and activities to get involved with and highlight resources to make it easy for people to try something new. Act Now, Age Better will run from 21^st April throughout the summer.

Age Scotland’s Chief Executive, Katherine Crawford, said:

“We know that staying active in midlife is one of the most important steps we can take to protect our health, wellbeing and independence as we grow older. But this new research highlights something we don’t talk about enough - the lasting impact that negative experiences of school PE can have on people’s confidence to be active, even decades later.

At Age Scotland, we hear from people who feel exercise simply isn’t ‘for them’, often because of those early experiences. The reality is that sport and physical activity have changed enormously, with far more inclusive, supportive and flexible opportunities now available.

The Act Now, Age Better campaign is about helping people rethink what being active looks and feels like today. It doesn’t have to mean competitive sport or high intensity exercise. What matters is finding something enjoyable and sustainable. Even small steps can build confidence, improve health and make a real difference over time.

It’s never too late to start, and by taking action now, people can give themselves the best possible chance of staying well, connected and independent in later life.”

Act Now, Age Better is being supported by a number of sporting figures and health experts, including Sally Gunnell, Mark Foster, Dame Denise Lewis, Gabby Logan, Sir Muir Gray, Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi and Dame Kelly Holmes.

Double Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes said:

“The benefits of sport and exercise are endless. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional athlete competing on a world stage, or a busy parent who has just managed to carve out a few hours for yourself one evening a week to head along to your local netball group.

“It’s about self-care, making new connections, feeling team spirit, supporting mental health, getting outside and feeling strong and capable for as long as possible. Age UK’s Act Now, Age Better campaign is a fantastic reminder of all those things and how important they can be for someone in midlife who is looking to increase their chances of living a better later life.

“It might feel like a small thing, or a task that can be shoved to the bottom of a never-ending to-do list, but trust me – it can make a world of difference.”

As well as showcasing a variety of sports and group activities, Age Scotland is offering practical tips and ideas to help even the most sport-sceptical give movement a go.