In Haverfordwest, 72-year-old Janice Morgan and 67-year-old Eva Hayes are proving that getting older doesn’t have to mean slowing down.
Armed with kettlebells, dumbbells and barbells, the pair are embracing ageing with energy and optimism as part of a growing community at Age Well sessions at Strength Academy Wales.
“Doing the sessions at Strength Academy Wales has given me more energy,” says Janice. “And now, I’m stronger and more flexible.”
Strength Academy Wales isn’t your average gym. It’s a community lifeline —welcoming people of all ages and abilities with the ambition to lift the whole community.
Alongside the Age Well sessions for people over 60, the gym also runs activities for
But as demand grew, so did the need for:
That’s when the team turned to Sport Wales and The National Lottery — securing over £4,000 in funding to strengthen their mission.
Thanks to that support, more than 200 people now use the gym every week.
“The National Lottery funding helped us to train our volunteers to become coaches. It also allowed us to buy equipment and improve the gym’s flooring.” - Simon Roach, a Strength Academy Wales committee member.
For Janice, the gym has become a source of strength — both physical and mental. After the pandemic, she joined to lose a little weight. Now, she’s deadlifting 65 kilos and feels more energetic than ever.
I’m keen to do all I can to stimulate my mind and my body as I age. It’s so important to do what you can to remain healthy and independent.
Eva, inspired by her mother-in-law’s struggles with osteoporosis and her own mother’s hip replacement, joined to future-proof her health.
Projects like Strength Academy Wales are vital. Exercise is key if we’re to prevent health issues as we get older so facilities like Strength Academy Wales need to be available. That’s why the National Lottery funding is so important.
But beyond the exercise, it’s the friendships that keep her coming back. After every session, Eva enjoys the social side, grabbing a well-earned coffee with her new friends.
Janice and Eva are proof that with the right support, ageing can be about gaining, not losing, strength.
Thanks to Sport Wales and the National Lottery, a small community gym in Pembrokeshire is helping people to move better, feel better, and live better.
Do you have a project that can make a difference to older women, too? The Be Active Wales Fund could help you make that difference.