New ways to get active as Chelmsford clubs ‘Spring into Action’

As Spring finally seems to have sprung, why not embrace the season of beginnings and find new ways to get active?

Physical activity is proven to have fantastic benefits to overall wellbeing, especially mental health, releasing endorphins and dopamine (ie. ‘happy hormones’) into our systems.

If a Park Run sounds more like punishment than fun and spending an hour at the gym holds absolutely no appeal, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the wonderful benefits of getting active. There are so many sporting options available to us in Chelmsford, and Spring into Action provides a great opportunity to try new things!

Spring into Action is back for another year

Spring into Action takes place every year between April and July and sees sports clubs and organisations throughout the Chelmsford district offering taster sessions and open days to encourage us all to try something new. From kickboxing to tennis, and bowls to martial arts, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

You can find a full list of opportunities on the Community Sport webpage, but here are a few examples to whet your appetite…

Free football sessions for women and girls

Broomfield Women and Girls FC are offering taster sessions throughout spring. If the Lionesses’ success has inspired you, here’s your chance to show it! Broomfield FC have held the prestigious FA Charter Standard (an award given to clubs attaining the highest level of care and coaching) for over 12 years, so it’s a great place to try your hand (or foot) at the beautiful game. All ages are welcome across the following one-hour sessions:

• Girls aged 5-11 on Saturdays, 9am at Broomfield Football Club
• Girls aged 12-16 on Saturdays, 9am at St John Payne School
• Women’s open age sessions on Wednesdays, 8pm at Chelmer Valley School

Get active with kickboxing taster sessions

With a range of classes for all ages, including women-only classes, McAllister Academy of Martial Arts is offering free taster sessions for anyone interested in kickboxing or self-defence. The South Woodham Ferrers academy was founded in 1985 and prides itself on teaching students to become highly proficient in their chosen art, while focusing on discipline, respect & good citizenship.

Taster sessions will be held, from April to June, on Mondays at 6.45pm and are open to all. A great opportunity to see if kickboxing is for you and get a feel for martial arts at this dedicated centre.

Free open days to try your hand at bowls

Danbury Bowls Club is opening its doors to anyone who’d like to have a go with some bowls over the weekend of Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 May. All you need is some flat shoes; they’ll handle the rest! Coaches will be on site and happy to help, so all levels are welcome.

The club was founded in 1932 and has been at its current location since 1977, where the beautifully maintained green is comprised of six rinks. There are also changing rooms on site and a licensed bar. Whether you visit to celebrate or commiserate is yet to be seen!

Try out some tennis and get active this spring

If you’d like to try tennis, Spring into Action has you covered!

Danbury Tennis Club is hosting an open day on Saturday 22 April. The day will include coaching sessions for under-11s (1pm-2pm) and over-11s and adults (2pm-3pm). Danbury Tennis Club is a friendly, thriving club with both astro turf and clay courts, and more than 300 members. Should you choose to become a member during the open day, the joining fee will be waived.

Meanwhile, Stock Tennis Club is offering come and try sessions for women and children throughout spring.

The club offers women’s only sessions, children’s sessions, and social sessions for those without a regular tennis partner. They also participate in the Chelmsford, Brentwood and Stock leagues, if you want to get competitive!

Come and try Martial Arts sessions for all ages

Tang Sou Dao is offering a free first session at their family-friendly mixed classes. Martial Arts are a fun way to keep fit, build self-confidence, and practice discipline, all while learning a new skill. Tang Sou Dao specifically devises classes to help expand awareness, improve balance, and promote agility.

Come and try sessions will be held at Riverside Leisure Centre on Wednesdays (8pm-9pm) and Sundays (10.30am-11.30am). The sessions are suitable for those aged five and above, of all abilities. Classes at Tang Sou Dao are pay-per-session, so, once you’ve used your free session, you can continue without commitment.

Children’s cricket programme is a great way to get active

Great Baddow Cricket Club is hosting an eight-week cricket programme for children aged 5-8 throughout May and June. The activity and game-based programme will provide children with the foundations to begin a lifelong love of physical activity and cricket. And they’ll make friends, too! The programme costs £40.00 per child.

Learn to ride sessions for families in Central Park

Our own Family Cycling Taster Day will be held in Central Park on Saturday 29 April. The event will host a range of activities for children and adults, with ‘learn to ride’ courses for all ages and a balance bike session for 2 to 5 year-olds. There will also be bike workshops, where attendees will learn how to fix and maintain their own bikes. You can find out more about the event and book your space on our RideLondon-Essex information page.

Does cycling sound like the perfect way for you to get active? Then take a look at the collection of family-friendly cycle routes around Chelmsford here: Explore Chelmsford.

As part of Spring Into Action, participating clubs and organisations are signposted to funding and training opportunities that are available to them.

Any clubs who would like to take advantage of the free advertising that comes with taking part in Spring Into Action, please to contact our Community Sport & Wellbeing team.

For more details on the scheme and the activities available this spring, please visit Spring into Action.