Fine Winter 2019

Get Active with
Horsham & Shipley
Community Project
Age is no limit when it comes to getting outside!
The Horsham & Shipley Community
Project is inspiring older people
to keep active by making full
use of all the land at a local football
ground TD Shipley. The organisation
grew from a Horsham-based veterans’
football club, Hills Farm Lane. Since then,
the Community Project has created
an environment which offers weekday
activities in the fresh air.
“We wanted to provide some facilities
for people to stay active and involved
for as long as they can” says Chairman
Philip Gibbs. “We saw an opportunity
to use the areas around the main pitch
for some lower-impact sports. First we
built four 15m pétanque “pistes”. It is a
fantastic game which gets people outside!
We have over 20 members now, playing
regularly on Tuesday mornings and during
the warmer months they play on Friday
evenings too – sometimes before a glass
of wine in a local pub! It is a sociable
sport and we have a very relaxed and
friendly group.”
The walking football club, has grown from
strength to strength and now has over 35
members. The men – and four ladies enjoy
an active session on Tuesday mornings,
competing in a series of 20 minute games
before well-earned refreshments and a chat!
For those more interested in practical
activities, the Community Project also
erected its own “Men’s Shed” alongside
the football clubhouse. The shed is well
stocked with equipment and a wood store
behind the clubhouse. Now with over 20
members who come and go as they please
during Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays,
the shedders (as they are fondly known), are
involved in helping to maintain the site with
fixing and repairing, plus making a variety of
items – some bigger commissioned items,
and other smaller things for sales and local
fêtes.
Philip says “The range of skill amongst the
Shedders is amazing, and for those less
practised at woodwork there is always a
chance to help out with something. The
slogan for the Men’s Shed movement,
which is an international organisation, is
"Shoulder To Shoulder" and this is how
things are at Shipley with a very supportive
group of gents. The newest activity on
offer through the drier months, is Health
Walks, often through nearby Knepp Castle
re-wilding project.
The original veterans’ football club, Hills
Farm Lane FC, now has 40 active members,
and plays home matches at Roffey FC. They
have a successful league squad as well as
squad playing friendlies, plus plenty of social
activities and an annual tour.
Giving people the opportunity to meet
and socialise while doing something active
is a good formula and at the summer
barbeques and other events the different
sections mingle. Friendships have formed
and everyone enjoys the camaraderie.
To find out more visit www.
HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.
org and follow the activities on
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
HorshamShipleyCommunityProject/
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