City West customers Go for Gold!

Published by Becki Ord for IPB Communications in Housing

Residents from sheltered schemes across Salford came together to celebrate their achievements in the nationwide “Go for Gold” challenge at a special awards ceremony organised by their landlord.

City West Housing Trust worked in partnership with Salford City Council in the Go for Gold initiative coordinated by the National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People (NAPA).

The Olympic themed project saw participants undertake challenges including bicep curls, marching, a speed walk and wool winding.

Competitors could enter as many of the activities as they wanted and City West honoured its national medal winning residents by inviting them to a special awards ceremony held at the end of last year.

The winners were presented with awards at the Marriott Hotel in Worsley by The Mayor of Salford, Bernard Lea.*

Matt Jones, Assistant Director of Communities and Neighbourhoods at City West, said: “It was fantastic to see so many residents taking part and enjoying The Go For Gold challenge. We were delighted to celebrate their involvement by holding this special event.

“The competition really captured the excitement and community spirit generated from the Olympics and the customers enjoyed it so much they now arrange regular activities such as carpet bowls between themselves. The success of the scheme is down to the enthusiasm and good will of the customers and the hard work of all the partners involved.”

120 residents participated in the Salford Go for Gold event – the highest number of participants involved in the nationwide event - which was held in July 2012 at nine sheltered housing schemes across Salford and three other extra care schemes.