Older Adults

Gentle Exercise

Local sessions and classes that are based on gentle exercise are an ideal way to get started and increase your physical activity levels. These are some examples that are available at local venues:

• Active Seniors / Forever Fit: Fun, low intensity, low impact sessions for older adults who want to work their heart, muscles and increase flexibility, all in one easy to follow class. Sessions available at North Solihull Sports Centre and Tudor Grange Leisure Centre.
• Badminton: Played as singles or doubles, the goal is to score points by landing the shuttlecock in the opponent’s court. Find further information on sessions at North Solihull Sports Centre and Tudor Grange Leisure Centre.
• Bowls: Is a precision sport where players roll biased balls on a grass or artificial green to get as close as possible to a small target ball called the “Jack”. Find sessions at Solihull Indoor Bowls club.
• Dance: Experience a variety of dance styles with classes at The Core (Central library Solihull). Please visit The Core website for more information.
• Extend: Offers gentle exercise to music classes for over 45’s. The sessions promote health, increase mobility, and improve strength, co-ordination and balance. Find sessions at North Solihull Sports Centre and Bentley Heath Community Centre.
• Good Boost: These sessions are designed to help individuals with musculoskeletal conditions (joint, bone, or muscle pain). Improve mobility, strength, and confidence through tailored, instructor-led aqua therapy. Find sessions at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre.
• Line dancing: Suitable for beginners, all capabilities, and open to over 45’s, taking place at Bentley Heath Community Centre. The classes all work on a first-come first-serve basis and you are welcome to just turn up on the day.
• Padel Tennis: Combining elements of tennis and squash. Find sessions at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, Solihull Padel Club, Solihull Arden Club.
• Pilates: The Pilates method aims to strengthen your core, lengthen the spine, build muscle tone, and increase body awareness. Visit the Core website for information on how to join.
• Table Tennis: Find ping pong tables in green spaces across Solihull! To join in the fun, simply head for a table and play… it’s absolutely free! Check out the Ping! Solihull webpage for more details.
• Tai Chi: Tai Chi classes include breathing exercises and gentle stretching. Sessions include: North Solihull Sports Centre, The Core, Hampton in Arden Church Hall, Bentley Heath Community Centre and FIRS.
• Tennis: A racket sport played individually (singles) or in pairs (doubles) on a rectangular court divided by a net. Find sessions at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, Solihull Tennis Club, Solihull Arden Club, West Warwickshire Sports Centre and Beechcroft Tennis and Multisport Centre.
• The Tuesday Group: A low intensity, low impact session for people who have suffered a stroke or are living with a disability or long-term health condition. Contact Seeds of Hope on 0121 788 3399.
• Short and Long Walks: Enjoy your local area, meet new people and improve your health with one of the local walking groups. Find information on the Walking in Solihull webpage.
• Walking Sports: A slower version of the traditional game played at a walking pace with adapted rules. Sessions are fun and friendly with many health and social benefits.
  • Walking Football: Find sessions taking place at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, Solihull Football Centre and Beechcroft Tennis and Multi Sport Club.
  • Walking Netball: Find sessions taking place at Beechcroft Tennis and Multi Sport Club, North Solihull Sports Centre, Tudor Grange Leisure Centre and Tudor Grange Academy.
  • Walking Tennis: Find sessions taking place at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, Solihull Tennis Club and Beechcroft Tennis Club.
  • Walking Rugby: Sessions taking place at Camp Hill RFC.
• Yoga: Local hatha yoga and chair-based yoga sessions are available to cater for beginners and those with poorer mobility. Session can be found at The Core Solihull.

Find further gentle exercise classes using My Solihull Map, which connects you to your local community, where you can find places to go and things to do.

Strength, Balance and Long-term Health Conditions

Strength and balance naturally declines as we get older, however taking part in regular strengthening and balance activities helps reduce this age-related decline and has major health benefits, including improving quality of life, maintaining independence and reducing risk of falls. Visit our Strength and Balance webpage for more information, community opportunities and home-based options to try.

People with long-term health conditions can benefit from a range of physical activity programmes that are available in Solihull. These can support the management of long-term health conditions and include specialist services, community exercise sessions and home-based options. To find out more, visit our Get Support to be Active webpages.

Local organisations that offer physical activity opportunities

• Age UK Solihull: A local, independent charity working in Solihull to offer support and services to older and vulnerable people.
• Bentley Heath Community Centre: This is a thriving hub for many regular activities and meetings, and serves both the local community and the wider community of Solihull Borough.
• Beechcroft Tennis and Multi Sports Club: Daytime activities for over 50’s/60s/70s including Walking Netball, Walking Tennis and Table Tennis
• Friends in Recreation Solihull: FIRS has been providing weekday daytime activities for over 50’s in Solihull for over 40 years.
• North Solihull Sports Centre: With a huge variety of facilities to enjoy, this is a fantastic place to get active and enjoy yourself.
• Ramblers in Solihull: The Ramblers – Britain’s walking charity working to protect and expand the places people love to walk and promote walking for health and pleasure.
• Solihull Football Centre: Walking Football, including Parkinson’s specific for age groups 50’s/60s/70s
• Solihull Support Group: particularly suitable for people with osteoporosis or arthritis, call 07856 209567.
• Tudor Grange Leisure Centre: The centre has everything you could possibly need to enjoy getting active.
• University of the Third Age: Learning and staying active and having fun in later life. It’s local, social, friendly, low-cost and open to all.

Active For Life – Free Annual Event

Next Event Date: TBC for 2026

Venue: North Solihull Sports Centre & Tudor Grange Leisure Centre

A week of FREE activities specifically aimed at older adults, the event is hosted by Everyone Active with the goal of empowering older people to enjoy exercise and find new ways to stay active.

All sessions are suitable for a range of different abilities and interests. Both members and non-members are welcome to the event free of charge.