Lithuanian women find friendship through exercise

16 hours ago

Shariqua Ahmedin Peterborough

Egle Norviltaite (second from left) has been running the exercise sessions for the last four years

Shariqua Ahmed/BBC Group of women - all holding badminton rackets in their hands- smiling for the camera. — Egle Norviltaite (second from left) has been running the exercise sessions for the last four years

Women from a city's Lithuanian community are beating isolation through an exercise group.

About 30 women in their 70s and 80s meet every Tuesday and Thursday for either a walk, a dance class or badminton in Peterborough.

Egle Norviltaite, who has been running the exercise club for the last four years, said: "They love coming here; they share positive thoughts; they are happy that they are still moving at this age. One of them is 84 years old," she said.

"They are all from Lithuania and are missing their country. But they found each other at this group. We don't just exercise - it's also a friendship group and we celebrate each other."

For most women in the group, English was not their first language, however many of them spoke multiple European languages including Russian, Polish and Lithuanian.

The group said they felt "comfortable" interacting with each other in these sessions without facing language barriers, adding that there are not many groups like this for them to go to in Peterborough or elsewhere in Cambridgeshire.

"There is one in Wisbech and Spalding, but none here apart from this", one of the women said, while another added "we need more such groups".

Luda, 70, said she enjoys meeting up with the group each week

Shariqua Ahmed/BBC Luda, a woman, with curly short brown hair. She is wearing a grey printed top and is smiling for the camera. — Luda, 70, said she enjoys meeting up with the group each week

Luda, 70, spoke to the BBC after the badminton session at the Gladstone Park Community Centre.

"It's very nice and I love it; this exercise session is great for us," said the grandmother, who moved to the UK 18 years ago.

"I try and stay active. I want to come every day and have made some friends here."

Norviltaite, who has lived in the UK for 12 years, said the group was looking at getting funding to continue using the community centre for badminton.

"It's all about getting active. Especially for old people - it's not easy to exercise you know," she said.

"Sometimes we do walking at Nene Park - two hours with Nordic walking sticks or go for paddling boat sessions.

"From April, we might have to stop badminton until we can find some funding - maybe we will ask the council. But we will continue the group with other activities like walks in the Central Park or Nene Park.

"It's an opportunity for these ladies to socialise, make friends; the ladies bring flowers for each other, celebrate birthdays and family events. So it's really nice."

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