A new Community Shop managed by Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) as part of the ‘Active Aycliffe’ initiative, officially opened its doors last weekend at the Healthy Hearts family event.
The Half Term Healthy Hearts Activities were free for families and took place on Saturday 16th and Monday 18th February in the new Community Shop next to the Post Office and Leisure Centre in Aycliffe Town Centre.
The events were well attended with nearly 400 people having ago at the activities on offer or finding out more about local services available in Newton Aycliffe that aim to help people of all ages get fitter, healthier and participate in activities to improve their lifestyles.
In the shop children got their faces painted, made arts and crafts and balloon animals whilst adults chatted with stall holders from Get Active, Get Cycling, Stroke Association and NHS Cancer Information. Visitors were also treated to hand and arm massages from Age UK and healthy wraps and smoothies made by PCP Health Trainers.
In the Leisure Centre families took part in cardio-tennis, aqua zumba, junior dodgeball and free health MOTs were on offer for the over 40s.
The shop will be used by local community groups and organisations to promote their services and activities under the umbrella of ‘Active Aycliffe’. ‘Active Aycliffe’ involves organisations such as Durham County Council’s Sport and Physical Activity Team, PCP, Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership (GAMP), Woodham Academy, One Point, Great Aycliffe Town Council, the Rotary Club and local sports clubs who have got together to run events and raise the profile of what’s going on in Aycliffe.
Jane Hartley Chief Executive for the PCP says “We want people to visit the Community Shop to discover the huge variety of local activities and services that people can access on their own doorstep. We want people to have fun, try something new and celebrate what Aycliffe has to offer. I would like to express a huge ‘thank you’ to Greenfield College COPE group and Durham Tees Valley Probation’s Unpaid Work Unit who were busy decorating the shop to get it ready for the launch event.”
If you represent a local organisation/group that fits in with the Active Aycliffe aims and would like to run an activity or book a time slot at the shop please contact the Active Aycliffe Project Officer lindsay.manning@pcp.uk.net or call PCP on 01325 321234.
For further information on the PCP pop into the Pioneering Care Centre, Carers Way, Newton Aycliffe DL5 4SF, call 01325 321234, email enquiries@pcp.uk.net or visit www.pcp.uk.net
