Living and ageing well together at The Chai Chat Club

16 December 2025

The Chai Chat Club at The India Centre in Splott, Cardiff recently hosted the new six-week Live Well, Age Well course, designed to help people stay active, reduce the risk of falls and stay connected as they age.

The collaboration between Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and The Hindu Cultural Association brought health and wellbeing support into the heart of the local community.

By the end of the course, one participant said: “I feel confident with myself since starting this course. It’s been very effective to motivate me to continue the exercises to keep me fit and prevent me from falling.”

Jyotshana, a Rehabilitation Coach with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, who led the sessions at The India Centre, said: “We noticed people’s confidence and strength increasing through each week and they felt more connected with each other by doing exercises together which they found fun. Personally, I got to experience the vibrant culture and sense of belonging as the people were always looking after each other and were always enthusiastic and motivated to participate."

The course is also running in leisure centres in Cardiff, Barry and Penarth, supporting people to:

• learn about ways to look after their health and wellbeing
• try out different activities to become more physically and mentally active
• reduce their risk of falling
• and connect with their local community

Over the past two years community members and professionals from across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan have been working together in co-production to develop new and innovative approaches to support people to live well as they age, such as the Live Well, Age Well course.

The focus is on prevention and aims to draw upon the knowledge skills and expertise that exists across communities to pool resources and develop integrated pathways of support. The co-production process has created connections across sectors and the community which has led to further collaboration, including The India Centre hosting Live Well, Age Well for its members.

Physiotherapist Rob Jones, who co-leads the Co-Production Group at Cardiff and Vale UHB, added: “Delivering the course within the Chai Chat Club created a mutual and reciprocal relationship, sharing space, expertise, and local knowledge. It enabled people to access the course closer to home in a safe and supportive environment.”

By the end of the course, participants reported feeling “a great deal better” and said they would “highly recommend” it to others. The course is open to anyone in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan who wants to improve their health and wellbeing as they age. You can self-refer or be referred by any service provider.

If you are interested in attending a Live Well, Age Well course call 02921 836945 or 07815 645513 to book your place.

Find out more at Live Well Age Well – Keeping Me Well.