Calling over 50s in Kildare: FitLine telephone mentoring service seeks participants and volunteers

FitLine, a telephone mentoring service that supports people aged 50+ to be more active, is looking for new participants and volunteers to join its service.

Meg Hegarty, FitLine Coordinator with Age & Opportunity’s Active Programme, explained: "We are launching a call-out for FitLine participants and volunteers in Kildare.

"It’s a nationwide initiative that has supported many people to date and we’re excited to be growing FitLine in Kildare."

She continued: "If you sign up as a FitLine participant you will receive regular calls from our friendly volunteers who understand the challenges of getting active; they will discuss your life situation and preferences and help make suggestions to encourage you to be more active.”

"For those interested in becoming a volunteer, we will train and support you to mentor older people to improve their physical and mental health by becoming more active. 

"Volunteers would need to be able to make a time commitment of two to three hours per fortnight," she concluded.

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"FitLine gave me the push I needed to stop making excuses to get up and be active," said Anne, a participant from Cork City, while Joe from Dublin said: "I live on my own and I love having someone from FitLine ring me regularly. They have good advice."

Margaret, living in Cavan, was an Age & Opportunity’s FitLine volunteer.

She says: "Nothing gives you that warm glow inside more than knowing you’ve helped another person in a meaningful way."

"If you’re thinking about becoming a FitLine participant don’t hestitate at all," Margaret added.

FitLine is a free initiative of Age & Opportunity, a national organisation that provides a range of opportunities for older people who want to get more involved in arts and culture, sport and physical activity, civic engagement and personal development. 

FitLine is an initiative within Age & Opportunity’s Active programme, funded by Sport Ireland and the HSE.

Those interested in joining FitLine as a participant or a volunteer can call 087-6211767 or Freephone 1800 303 545.

Age & Opportunity is the national organisation that provides a range of opportunities for older people who want to get more involved in arts and culture, sport and physical activity, civic engagement and personal development. 

Its aim is to enable the best possible quality of life for us all as we age, where we can be more active, more visible, more creative, more connected and more confident.

Age & Opportunity Active is the national programme for sport and physical activity for older people, funded by Sport Ireland and the HSE.

The programme is designed to get us more active and to participate in recreational sport and physical activity.

Further details can be found on ageandopportunity.ie.