With the wind in grey hair - promotion of active life after 60

With the wind in grey hair is a small collaboration project that joins forces of 6 sailing clubs and sport organisations from 6 countries. The project purpose and idea is to work together on activating senior citizens (over 60 years old) through sailing and other activities (not only sport related) and motivate them for more active lifestyle. The main part of the project was a Study Visit in HORN Kraków and working with the Club's Seniors Activity Center to show other partners the good practice and how The City of Krakow is working to influence and make better quality lives of local seniors and also try partners' activities ideas. Many people asks: "Am I Too Old For Sailing?" Sailing is an activity that anybody can enjoy, no matter their age. It's never too late to learn either. Sailing programs exist in virtually every state with a coastline or big lake. Instructors don't discriminate; in fact, many master sailing instructors are past retirement. Older people should not be discouraged from sailing or any sport activities (adjusted for their physical condition), since it is great to activate and engage seniors. As people get older they become less mobile and so unable to walk as far or do some exercise - we aimed to change it!

The Seniors Club is Horn's pride and we invited partner organisations (mostly sailing clubs) from different countries to share the good practices and with their collaboration - enrich it and make even more attractive. Horn shared what was worth sharing and showed other clubs, city councils, seniors groups - that a sailing or sport club can be a great senior activities centre and it has a potential to be much more than a sport club - it can be an activity and educational center for seniors, educational center for school outdoor education (Water Buddies project in school education) and a social and inclusive center - even center for migrant integration and activities. We aimed to expand the idea of active seniors through sailing and other sport activities to partner countries: Portugal, Italy, Cyprus, Turkey and Austria, and with them take the idea further . Some of them had already senior sailors, but non have the senior dedicated activities like Horn Kraków. To design tools and activities that will engage senior citizens to participate actively and give them new possibilities for happy life after 60. Our goal was to create more activities for seniors across Europe in different sport clubs and with municipalities collaboration.

The project was divided into 2 main activities: The activity "The wind in grey hair" - activities for seniors 60+ is a booklet - 66 pages with a wide range of activities (mostly water sports), safety rules, tips and ideas directed to seniors' wellbeing and active lifestyle. HORN Kraków organised also a Study Visit in The Club in Kraków. 5 days Study Visit with guests from partner organisations, local coordinators and coaches and senior citizens 60+ to share good practices, implement and test ideas for activities from partner organisations, collect video materials, meet with local authorities and talk about seniors needs and ideas to engage them in more activities and projects, like start seniors voluntary programs and intergenerational projects. Apart from the main activities all partners run local activities with seniors, round tables to test the activities on local level and gather their opinion, meeting with municipality and seniors in Krakow - promoting project and discussing the good practices and needs. Most of the partner organisations at the end of the project already implemented new senior activities and are currently talking with authorities about local programs for senior citizens.

The main tangible results of the project are the booklet and Study Visit videos from activities: - sharing good practices and ideas on activation of seniors 60+ - sharing the experience of work with seniors 60+ through sailing and other sports - activation of seniors and motivation for active and healthy lifestyle - adapting and starting new activities in the partner organisations dedicated for seniors - creation of benchmark for collaboration with municipalities and NGOs on seniors' activity and health - strengthening the collaboration within European sailing clubs ans other sport organisations - the booklet Wind 60+ with activities to be shared and promoted and to serve as an inspiration for other organisations across Europe - promotion of active lifestyle after 60 through videos and new activities in partners organisations. - need assessment on seniors needs and how to engage them in new activities and projects - ideas for new projects based on the work with seniors and sport clubs.