Maccabi takes a healthy approach to partnerships

Maccabi GB is expanding its reach beyond sports provision in a move to become British Jewry's health and lifestyle provider.

It has launched a sports, health and well-being programme involving partnerships with Jewish Care, Chai Cancer Care and mental health charity Jami to provide tailor-made activities for their clients.

CEO Martin Berliner said Maccabi was trying to meet communal demands for a healthier lifestyle by catering to the needs of specific groups.

"We see ourselves as the community's sports provider, so going to other organisations and saying what can we do for them is win-win. Not everyone wants to take part in sport but they do want to take part in some kind of physical activity. It is about finding things they want to do."

Maccabi's sports activities have been targeted mainly at schoolchildren and young people. But the new scheme will cover a much wider age span. For example, it has been running focus groups with Jewish Care to discover the kinds of activities suitable for the 60-plus.

A lawn bowls taster session was the first of a number of pilot projects held for Jewish Care clients. Of the 16 participants, five signed up to be regular members of the bowls club.

Jewish Care head of volunteering and community development Sonia Douek said: "We are trying to find new ways to bring pleasure to older people. Keeping fit while keeping people engaged in the community seems like a very good way to do that."

Another Maccabi-Jewish Care initiative is a "walking football team" for the over-50s at Jewish Care's Redbridge centre. And a number of walking groups have been set up for Chai clients.

Mr Berliner said that although initial participant numbers in the new programmes were in the tens, he expected that hundreds would join up. In the long-term, he aims to have health programmes in all Jewish Care facilities.

He added that the wellness scheme would be funded jointly with the partner groups. A regional sports development coordinator appointed in Leeds will oversee both current sports activities and the roll-out of the new programme across the north of England and Scotland.

Maccabi runs over 200 sports programmes a year for over 36,000 people.