Older People's Strategy - Newcastle City Council

62Allotments are good for your healthAllotments are an extremely valuable recreational and leisureasset. Working an allotment offers healthy physical recreationfor gardeners, and is increasingly recognised for itstherapeutic value. It encourages people to eat seasonal freshvegetables and fruit, which is both healthy and economical.Allotment gardening brings people from different agestogether around a common interest, fostering the sharing ofknowledge and expertise and many allotment sites are linkedto schools, providing the basis for education projects. It canbring wider benefits – committee membership, allotmentmanagement, organising shows, community days and fairs.Dedication also brings personal satisfaction and somefinancial gain – Elders Council member John Reid won 76prizes and a Champion Gardener Shield in allotment showsin 2006, winning him £160 cash to invest in next year’s plants.A Chinese older people’s lunch club regularly enjoys theproduce from his allotment.Actions Work with partners to find ways of sustaining voluntary andcommunity sector infrastructure through which learningopportunities and activities for older people can besupported and provided. Provide better access to a range of community facilities atreasonable cost e.g. Full Service Schools; sheltered housing. Develop an older learners’ model which removes barriersto current participation by providing tasters, flexibleprogrammes, peer education (e.g. U3A model).