The ultimate aim of the CHAN is to improve the quality of life and physical and mental health and wellbeing of care home residents through offering person-centred meaningful activity which is focused on the needs, interests and hobbies of residents. This includes sport. Through the CHAN many activity opportunities have been developed including the Go4Gold Games Challenge, Swimming, Golf, Football Memories, Netball, Paths for All Walks, Strength and Balance exercises, Cycling, Arts in Care, Dancing, Living Voices, Hand Massage, Music, Drama, Playlists for life to name but a few.
If you are interested in joining the CHAN or finding out more please contact [email protected].
Go4Gold
Go4Gold is an annual activities challenge for care homes and day centres across Perth and Kinross, delivered in partnership with Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership and Scottish Care.
First launched in 2012 to connect residents with the excitement of the London Olympics, Go4Gold has grown into a much-loved event that celebrates movement, creativity and community. Each year, participants take part in themed activities designed to support physical wellbeing, social connection and fun.
Over the years, the event has evolved. Traditionally delivered as a live, inter-care home competition, Go4Gold adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic into a virtual format, allowing care homes to run their own in-house challenges while staying connected through shared experiences and online celebrations. This approach enabled even more residents to take part.
Today, Go4Gold continues to combine the best of both approaches - bringing people together, whether in person or virtually, to celebrate participation, achievement and enjoyment.
Go4Gold 2025 - Highland Games
The 2025 Go4Gold challenge was inspired by the Highland Games, bringing a distinctly Scottish theme to activities across care homes and day centres.
Residents took part in a wide range of inclusive physical and wellbeing challenges, alongside creative team activities. This year also saw the return of in-person events for the first time since the pandemic, alongside the virtual celebration.
The awards ceremony premiered on 1 October to mark the International Day of Older People, highlighting the energy, creativity and connection that makes Go4Gold so special.
Watch the Go4Gold 2025 awards ceremony:
Previous Go4Gold events
You can watch highlights and full award ceremonies from previous years below:
2024 - Paris Olympics theme
2023
2021-2022 - Virtual events
2017 highlights (live event era)
Football Memories
Football Memories is a project delivered by Alzheimer Scotland and Scottish Football Museum for people living with Dementia.
Football Memories is delivered by Saints in the Community, the St Johnstone Community Trust.
The activity is aimed at helping people of all ages who would benefit from social interaction - for example, those living in isolation or with a condition such as dementia or recovering from a stroke. With the use of player picture cards, team photos and other memorabilia, participants memories of footballing days gone by are encouraged to be reignited.
Weekly sessions are delivered at McDiarmid Park, the home of St Johnstone FC.
For more information contact [email protected].
Golf Memories
The Perth Golf Memories group is a community-led project to improve the lives of people living with dementia and age-related memory conditions.
It is aimed at those who have played golf at some time in their lives but who may no longer manage to get round a golf course anymore.
The group offers participants the opportunity to hit some golf balls at the undercover driving range supported by an experienced golf professional and a dedicated team of volunteers; there is also the opportunity to do some putting on the all-weather accessible putting green with a monthly trophy up for grabs and finally, an opportunity to socialise with other participants and volunteers and reminisce about days gone by.
This group takes place in a friendly supportive environment and new members are always welcome. The group is free to attend although participants need to arrange their own transport to the venue. The group meets every Monday morning from 10.30am to 1130am at Noah's Ark Golf Centre, Perth.
For further information or to make a referral please contact [email protected] or [email protected].
All-Ability Bikes
We have a wide range of adapted bikes within our fleet that can assist with many obstacles faced by people who struggle with a 'standard' 2-wheel bike. We have 3 side-by-side bikes which are commonly used by people who have visual impairment, co-ordination issues, conditions such as stroke or Parkinson's.
The hand bike is perfect for someone who has very limited to no use of their legs. We have 2 e-trikes that help people with balance issues, an electric assisted wheelchair bike and we will soon have 3 low step over e-bikes, again great for people who may struggle to get on to the seat of a bike.
The bikes are for hire generally for an hour and we have the perfect route around the North Inch in which they can be cycled. You can hire an individual bike to go out on your own or we can provide someone to cycle with you who can show you how everything works, provide assistance such as on the side-by-side bike or even just for a chat or some company.
Cost depends on what level of membership you have with Live Active but last year's prices were between £3.80 for an hour with a full concession and up to £5.90 for no membership at all. (Group rides are dependant on number of bikes required and if an instructor is also needed.)
This activity is supported by Live Active Leisure's Wellbeing Team. Further information is on the Live Active - All-ability bike webpage.
Buddy Walks
Being active is key to maintaining good physical and mental health, here at Live Active Leisure we want to support everyone to have the opportunity to access physical activity.
The Buddy Walking Project is designed to support individuals who are inactive, socially isolated and have lost confidence in their walking ability.
The project aims to help improve activity levels, confidence and social connections through walking with a Live Active Buddy Walking Wellbeing Co-ordinator. In partnership with Paths for All, our project will target those who are noticing a decline in physical or mental health due to inactivity.
A stage before our existing 'Health Walks', our Buddy Walks will offer one-to-one support for those looking to begin their activity journey, and these walks can start right from the individuals front door.
Our Team will contact the individual to discuss the best time and date to meet, at a location that suits them. On the day they will head out for a walk , enjoying some fresh air, some physical activity and a friendly chat. How far we go is entirely up to the individual and this may increase as time goes by, as they build up confidence and fitness.
This activity is supported by Live Active Leisure's Wellbeing Team. Contact [email protected] for further information.
Health Walking Groups
Health Walks are aimed at those who would benefit most from being more active and meeting others. This could include people who haven't been active for a while and would like to start again, people recovering from ill health or who are managing a long-term condition, and anyone who's been told by a health professional that they would benefit from being more active.
Those joining a local walk enjoy a whole range of benefits including increased fitness, improved mood and increased social interactions with other people and the local area. Taking part is free and requires no special equipment, making it an ideal way to become more active.
Interested in taking part in a Health Walk? Check out the online Health Walk finder and discover a Health Walk near you. You're guaranteed a warm welcome and a walk at a pace and length that suits you whatever your ability.
A supported Health Walk is short, safe, social, local, low level, led walk. The walks are aimed at inactive adults led by trained volunteers and core staff, no longer than an hour and are FREE.
This activity is supported by Live Active Leisure's Wellbeing Team.
Celebrating life stories and creative connections
Alongside our partners, Generating Opportunity CIC, we're delighted to bring Life Stories and Creative Reminiscence activities to seniors in our care homes and communities across Perth and Kinross, empowering individuals and their families to share and treasure their life stories and memories.
Project Co-ordinator Linda Grant comments: 'Over the past two years, we have continued to develop our own learning about the sheer power of stories to affirm, comfort, inform, entertain and connect people.
In addition to making films about people's memoirs and family histories, we have prompted group storytelling through Reminiscence Teas, using music, photos, poems and memorabilia and also activities such as making personal storyboards and recording messages of affirmations for children and young people."
If you would like to be involved, please email [email protected] or please see the Generating Opportunity Facebook page for further information.
Generations Working Together (GWT)
Are you thinking about or delivering intergenerational work as an activity lead? GWT is the nationally recognised centre of excellence supporting the development and integration of intergenerational work across Scotland.
One of the most wonderful things about intergenerational work is that it never stays contained in the space in which it takes place, the connections and relationships that are made, follow people home.
As the internationally recognised centre of excellence supporting the development and integration of IG work across Scotland, GWT encourages individuals and organisations to start from a place of intergenerational good practice, through training, local networks, and a rich resource library full of case studies, toolkits, and guidance documents. They offer a monthly Drop-In Clinic where you can just ask any questions you like about intergenerational work.
Become a member for free and discover useful resources at Generations Working Together (GWT).
Screen memories: Reviving the magic of cinema
Reconnect people with memories and feelings associated with their love of cinema.
Screen Memories create a fun and stimulating environment for all involved, using film clips, still images, memorabilia and audio. The groups are inclusive and have shown to be beneficial to those living with dementia, as well as carers, people who are lonely, socially isolated or just enjoy getting involved with a community who have a shared interest.
Please see the Screen Memories website for further information.
If interested, please contact: [email protected].
