Veterans family fitness Consett. Staying active can be an important part of maintaining a healthy and connected lifestyle. For veterans and military families, having opportunities to exercise together can also create valuable social connections, improve confidence, and provide a positive weekly routine.
For families in Consett and the surrounding areas, Active in Consett: The Family Way provides a free opportunity for veterans and their families to take part in regular physical activities together.
The programme is supported through Sport England’s Movement Fund and is designed to help remove barriers to physical activity while creating a welcoming community environment for veterans, partners, and children.
What Is Veterans’ Family Fitness Consett?
Active in Consett: The Family Way is a free weekly fitness programme for veterans and their families in Consett.
The programme is based at Belle View Stadium, Consett, where SMARTT Veterans CIC provides a community-focused environment for veterans and their families.
The programme is designed around a simple idea:
Veterans and their families should have the opportunity to be active together, have fun and build stronger community connections without worrying about the cost.
The programme is planned to provide 90-minute weekly sessions throughout the year, giving families a consistent opportunity to participate in physical activity.
Why Is Family Fitness Important for Veterans?
Veterans family fitness Consett: Leaving military service can bring many changes to everyday life.
Veterans may need to establish new routines, build new social connections and find activities that provide a sense of purpose and community.
Physical activity can be one way of creating that routine.
When family members participate together, it can also create opportunities to:
- Spend quality time together
- Try new activities
- Meet other families
- Build confidence
- Stay physically active
- Develop teamwork
- Create positive routines
- Strengthen community connections
The goal is not simply to exercise.
It is about creating a welcoming environment where veterans and their families can connect, participate and enjoy activities together.
Veterans family fitness Consett: A Free Fitness Programme for Veterans and Families in Consett
One of the key benefits of Active in Consett is that the programme is free to participate in.
For many families, the cost of sport and leisure activities can become a barrier.
Gym memberships, children’s activities, sports clubs, equipment and travel can all add up.
By providing a free programme, SMARTT Veterans CIC aims to make physical activity more accessible to local veteran families.
The programme is particularly valuable for families who may be experiencing financial pressures or have fewer opportunities to participate in organised physical activities.
What Activities Can Families Take Part In?
The programme is designed to include a variety of fun and accessible activities rather than focusing only on traditional gym-style exercise.
Veterans family fitness Consett: Outdoor Activities
During the warmer months and when weather conditions allow, activities can include:
- Fitness circuits
- Agility games
- Dodgeball
- Tag rugby
- Team games
- Family fitness challenges
- Fun physical activities
The emphasis is on participation rather than competition.
You do not have to be an experienced athlete.
You do not need to be extremely fit.
The idea is simply to come along, participate and enjoy being active with your family.
Veterans family fitness Consett: Indoor Family Fitness During Colder Months
Physical activity does not have to stop when the weather changes.
During colder or unsuitable weather, activities can move indoors.
These may include:
- Indoor fitness circuits
- Family fitness games
- Team activities
- Movement-based games
- Fun challenges
- Activities suitable for different ages and abilities
This helps create a more consistent programme throughout the year.
Families do not have to wait for summer before getting involved.
Who Can Join Active in Consett?
The programme has been designed specifically around veterans and their families.
This can include:
- Veterans
- Partners of veterans
- Children
- Military families
The family-focused approach means that veterans do not have to participate separately from the people closest to them.
Instead, families can share the experience.
That can make physical activity more enjoyable and create opportunities to meet other people in similar circumstances.
From Walking Football to Family Fitness
SMARTT Veterans CIC has already seen interest in physical activity through its walking football programme.
Walking football provides veterans with an opportunity to stay active, meet other veterans and develop friendships.
However, one limitation is that it is primarily focused on a specific group of participants.
Active in Consett: The Family Way takes a broader approach.
Instead of focusing on one activity, it creates opportunities for veterans and family members to participate together.
This means partners and children can also become part of the experience.
The programme has therefore been developed to create a more inclusive family-focused approach to physical activity.
Benefits of Family Fitness for Veterans
Regular physical activity can offer a range of potential benefits.
1. Staying Physically Active
Participating in regular activities can help families build movement and exercise into their weekly routine.
The programme provides a structured opportunity to get active without requiring expensive gym memberships.
2. Building Social Connections
Community activities can help people meet others.
For veterans who may sometimes feel socially isolated after leaving the Armed Forces, having a regular activity to attend can create opportunities for conversation and friendship.
Families can also meet other families who understand aspects of military life.
3. Creating a Positive Routine
A regular weekly activity can provide something positive to look forward to.
Having an activity in the calendar can create structure and encourage families to spend time together.
4. Improving Confidence
Trying a new activity can sometimes feel challenging.
Taking part, learning something new and completing an activity together can help build confidence.
This can be particularly valuable for people who may have lost some confidence during periods of major life change.
5. Spending Quality Family Time
Modern family life can be busy.
A shared physical activity provides an opportunity for veterans, partners and children to spend meaningful time together away from everyday routines.
6. Having Fun
Exercise does not always need to feel like formal training.
Games, challenges and team activities can make physical activity enjoyable.
The emphasis of Active in Consett is on participation, enjoyment and community rather than competition.
Veterans family fitness Consett: Supporting Veterans Beyond Physical Activity
Active in Consett is only one part of SMARTT Veterans CIC’s wider support network.
The organisation supports veterans and their families across several areas, including:
- Education and training
- Employment support
- Mental health support
- Housing assistance
- Food poverty initiatives
- Community activities
- Family support
- Information and signposting
This means that a veteran may come to a fitness session for one reason and discover other useful support opportunities.
For example, someone attending a family activity may also learn about:
- Training courses
- Employment opportunities
- The Veterans Breakfast Club
- Walking football
- Volunteering
- Other community activities
- Available support services
SMARTT Veterans’ wider aim is to create a welcoming community where veterans and families can access information, opportunities and connections. Veterans family fitness Consett
Helping Families Overcome the Cost of Living
The cost of participating in sports and leisure activities can sometimes prevent families from getting involved.
For households experiencing financial pressure, paying for multiple activities every month may not be realistic.
That is why free community programmes can be valuable.
Active in Consett: The Family Way is designed to provide an opportunity for veterans and families to stay active without the additional cost of activity fees or memberships.
This can help families make physical activity part of their routine while managing other household expenses.
A Community Space for Veterans and Families
SMARTT Veterans CIC is based at Belle View Stadium, Consett, providing a local base for veteran support and community activities.
The organisation’s wider work is focused on ensuring that veterans do not have to face challenges alone.
A veteran may visit for:
- A fitness session
- A breakfast club
- A drop-in session
- Training information
- Employment support
- Community activities
- Family events
- Volunteering opportunities
Veterans family fitness Consett: There does not have to be one specific reason for getting involved.
Sometimes simply meeting other people and becoming part of a community can be an important first step.
Who Is Active in Consett Suitable For?
Active in Consett: The Family Way may be suitable for veterans and military families who want to:
- Become more physically active
- Spend more time together
- Meet other families
- Try different activities
- Build confidence
- Create a weekly routine
- Improve social connections
- Enjoy free community activities
- Become more involved in the local veteran community
You do not need to be a professional athlete.
You do not need previous experience in organised sport.
The focus is on participation and creating an enjoyable environment for families.
Supporting Veterans in Consett and County Durham
SMARTT Veterans CIC is part of the wider veteran community in County Durham.
According to figures published on the organisation’s website using 2021 Census data, County Durham had an estimated 22,615 veterans, representing around 5.2% of the population.
With a significant local veteran population, accessible community activities can play an important role in helping people stay connected.
Programmes such as Active in Consett can provide an informal way for veterans and families to become involved in their local community.
Why Community-Based Fitness Matters
A fitness programme can provide more than physical activity.
It can create a place where people can:
Meet.
Move.
Talk.
Laugh.
Build friendships.
Support each other.
For veterans and military families, these connections can be particularly meaningful.
The ultimate aim is to create a community where people feel welcome and know that support is available when they need it.
Veterans family fitness Consett: How to Get Involved
If you are a veteran or part of a military family living in Consett or the surrounding County Durham area, you can contact SMARTT Veterans CIC to find out more about available activities and current programme arrangements.
The organisation can provide information about its wider veteran support, community activities and opportunities.
SMARTT Veterans CIC
Belle View Stadium
Consett AFC
County Durham
DH8 7BF
Phone: 01207 588886
Mobile: 07592 628674
Email: info@ smarttveterans.org
Veterans family fitness Consett: Final Thoughts
Staying active can be an important part of building a positive routine after military service.
But for veterans and their families, the benefits can go beyond exercise.
A weekly family activity can provide an opportunity to meet people, build friendships, spend quality time together and become more connected to the local community.
Active in Consett: The Family Way is designed to provide exactly that opportunity.
With free weekly sessions for veterans and their families at Belle View Stadium, the programme aims to make physical activity more accessible while helping create a stronger and more connected veteran community in Consett.
Veterans. Families. Fitness. Friendship. Community.
Together, every step can make a difference.
