On the 4th and 5th July 2013, the ESRC funded ‘Moving Stories’ project hosted a two-day international seminar, aimed at researchers and policy makers who were working to support older adults achieve health and wellbeing through continued engagement in physical activity.

Stimulated by recent calls to rethink our approaches to understanding ageing and physical activity, the seminar sought to move away from advice, guidance and recommendations regarding how much / how often physical activity should be undertaken, and towards a concern with the physical and social environments that enable and / or constrain a physically active lifestyle in older age.

The invited speakers represented a range of disciplines (e.g. sociology, psychology, public health, sport and health sciences, social policy, geography) and spoke to a variety of issues, such as: neighbourhood determinants of physical activity, the impact of sensory impairment, perceptions of physical activity amongst ethnic minorities, sport and social change in older age, the possibilities and perils of health policy, trends and transitions in research on ageing and physical activity, and more.

The event was attended by approximately 60 delegates including representation from the NHS, AgeUK, Thomas Pocklington Trust, British Heart Foundation. From academia, attendance ranged from Professors to PhD students, design departments to physiotherapy.

Presentations from the two days are available upon request, please contact Dr Noreen Orr.

Thank you to the presenters for allowing their material to be shared. Please contact them directly if you wish to use the material in any capacity.