Are you setting a New Year’s Resolution for 2023? Healthy Living Centre Dartford is here to help you stick with it. Whether you are setting a goal to support your physical, social, or emotional wellbeing, we have something for everyone. Take your pick from our exercise sessions, community social events and lunches, gardening and cooking clubs, arts and crafts, repair café, vocational courses, and IT lessons as well as a variety of volunteer opportunities – we are certain that Healthy Living Centre Dartford is the place for you in 2023!

All our physical exercise activities are open to everyone and cater for all abilities. Delivered by qualified tutors, they each cost just £2.50 per class and take place at either Tree or Temple Hill Community Centres:

• Zumba Gold at Temple Hill on Mondays 7pm-
8pm
• Yoga with Hazel at Tree on Tuesdays 7pm-
8pm and Thursdays 7:30pm-8:30pm
• Tai Chi at Tree on Thursdays 10:00am-11:00am
followed by tea and biscuits
• Seated Yoga at Tree on Thursdays 1:30pm-
2:30pm followed by a cuppa
• Circ-Hiits at Tree on Thursdays 6:30pm-
7:30pm

The benefits of exercise go well beyond weight loss and muscle toning – exercise can support your physical and wellbeing in so many ways, including improving your sleep. It can help your joints become more flexible, increased blood circulation refreshes cells throughout your body, including your brain; it helps your digestive system work more efficiently, your lymphatics can do their job more efficiently and you will feel brighter as your liver and kidneys are activated. The best bit: the endorphins (chemicals) that your body produces when you exercise (dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin) affect your brain and will dramatically improve your overall mood.

The conclusion? Regular exercise really does make you happier!

In 2023, we also plan to offer additional physical activities including group cycling and walking events – to stay up to date with all our current and new activities please email info@hlcdartford.org.uk to be added to our mailing list.

If your plan for the new year is to get out and about, enjoy more social activities and meet new people, we have plenty of opportunities to do just that. At Temple Hill Community Centre our doors are open to all for our Hygge* on the Hill on Wednesday mornings 10:00-12:00.

*The Danish concept of “hygge” refers to finding comfort, pleasure, and warmth in simple, soothing things such as a cosy atmosphere or the feeling of friendship.

For a sociable, delicious, and affordable home cooked meal (without the washing up!), join us on the 3rd Friday of every month for our Tree Community Lunch, open to all. On the 1st Friday of every month, the WI Seniors Lunch Club meets at Temple Hill. Booking is essential for both lunches.

If you prefer to grow your own food, why not get involved in our Growing Community Food Network, an exciting Borough-wide project? Or if cooking is your thing, why not join our weekly cookery club? = For more information on our food projects email info@hlcdartford.org.uk. Whether you are keen to learn something new or have skills to share, we would love to hear from you!

Parents, carers, and their pre-school children are invited along to our friendly Tea, Toast and Talking supportive social mornings in collaboration with Mummy’s Link Up and HomeStart Northwest Kent. Come along to Tree Community Centre on the 2nd Friday of each month 10:00-12:00 and Temple Hill Community Centre on the 4th Friday of each month 10:00-14:00. You can also bring and swap, or shop-for-free, good-quality new and pre-loved items needed when raising a family. For more information contact: mummyslinkup@gmail.com or HomeStart on 01322 225100.

We offer a relaxed and informal meeting place at our Community Hub and Repair Café, where you can grab a free cuppa, an affordable bite to eat and an opportunity to meet and chat with other local people. The repair team can turn their hands to most items that can be repaired, from small electricals to bicycles to sewing and clothes repair. With the mantra “don’t throw it, repair it”, the team do their best to mend anything that comes their way. At our Hub events, we often have advice specialists available to help, including “One You” Lifestyle Advisors, welfare, debt and benefit advisors, legal and financial services and adult education providers. For the fun element we have games, puzzles and arts and crafts for anyone who wants to have a go. Our Community Hub events take place on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at Tree Community Centre, and on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at Temple Hill Community Centre.

Did you hear about the concept to buy “Nothing New in ‘22”? We at Healthy Living Centre Dartford are joining in the movement to challenge consumerism and reduce waste. With the support of our incredibly talented Repair Café, the staff team are aiming for “Waste Free in ‘23”

To find out more or to book any of these activities you can contact us on 01322 311265 / info@hlcdartford.org.uk or follow us on Facebook @healthylivingcentredartford or Instagram @hlcdartford.

We can’t wait to meet you!

healthy living dartford