To mark the achievements of members of the latest ‘Class Diamonds’ initiative, who have successfully completed a course either in Pinwherry or Barr, a graduation ceremony was held in each of the respective villages.

South Ayrshire Council Depute Provost Mary Kilpatrick attended the graduation ceremony in Pinwherry and presented a certificate to each class member.    Councillor Kilpatrick said:  “The ‘Class Diamonds’ initiative was originally launched in September 2002, to encourage people approaching, or in retirement, to remain active in their homes and in their community.  It has been an outstanding success with many class members continuing to meet each week long after their course finishes by forming their own club.  I really enjoyed meeting those who took part in the initiative in Pinwherry and hearing how much fun they had.”

The classes, which are free, have been held in locations all over South Ayrshire, and have proved very popular. 

‘Class Diamonds’ is a health and activity programme for older people aims to encourage all participants to adopt the attitude ‘Be The Best You Can Be’.  The South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership has funded these current courses.

The community based healthy lifestyle project encourages physical activity in older people who live in South Ayrshire, and who remain independent in their homes.  The major aims of the classes are:

1. To raise awareness of home and personal safety.
2. To promote positive changes in lifestyles.
3. To increase the number of people over the age of 65 who take part in physical activity.
4. To reduce the risk of falls and accidents in the home.

South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan, who was the guest of honour at the Barr graduation ceremony said:  “This is a super initiative that brings together older people who learn how they can maintain and improve their physical and mental health.  The guest speakers and representatives from other agencies helped to make the Barr ‘Class Diamonds’ initiative a great success, but the real diamonds were the course participants.”

The courses are organised by a Public Health Co-ordinator in partnership with the Health and Fitness Team in Sports Development, Primary Care Health Professionals, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service, Council staff and other agencies.

Each of the ‘Class Diamonds’ courses lasts for 12 weeks, with a two hour session every week, where guest speakers visit the group and deliver talks on a wide variety of health and safety topics and information on where to go for help including:

1. What to do if you have a fall and reducing the risks of falling.
2. Services that can help.
3. Healthy feet.
4. Healthy eating.
5. Taking medication safely.
6. Healthy eyes.
7. Healthy teeth and mouth.
8. Memory hints.
9. Health issues.
10. Fire safety.
11. Bogus callers and personal safety.
12. Keeping safe at home.
13. Benefits and allowances.
14. Care and Repair scheme and the Befriending Scheme.

The first hour of the class takes the form of specially designed progressive exercises with a Tai Chi element that can be done either sitting or standing.  The choice of physical activities is very wide to encourage everyone to work together as a team and enjoy themselves whether it is skittles, new age curling, bowling, badminton, short tennis, putting golf, hockey around cones, or beanbag and hoop games.

South Ayrshire Council Depute Provost Mary Kilpatrick is pictured with graduates of the Pinwherry ‘Class Diamonds’ class.

South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan is pictured with graduates of the Barr ‘Class Diamonds’ class.

November 2006