Welcome to our Alive Community Network (ACN) Circles where we seek to engage seniors in the creative arts and promote active aging.

ACN Circles is your go-to place for fun and fulfilling ways to spend your golden years! Getting older doesn’t mean you have to slow down on every front; in fact, staying busy and connected is super important for feeling good all around. Here at ACN Circles, you will find tons of cool stuff to do that will boost your mind, keep you active, and help you make new friends.

Some published journals such as Neurology and The New England Journal of Medicine prove how great it is for seniors to stay active. Whether you’re getting lost in a craft project, learning to play an instrument, or just getting creative, these activities can really sharpen your brain, help you de-stress, and even help slow down some of those age-related memory issues. And it’s not just about what you do by yourself! Hanging out and making friends with other seniors is a game-changer. It helps chase away loneliness and builds a supportive group that shares laughs, stories, and just makes life richer.

So, come on down and see all the exciting possibilities waiting for you! Unleash your inner artiste – sing, dance, play the drums even! Learn a new skill or two, too!

For the latest programme timings and venues, please click on this link:  

Active Aging is a dynamic, multi faceted concept that extends beyond mere physical activity.

A recent study by Abugroun et al. (2025) published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society provides compelling evidence for the significant impact of social engagement on mortality risk in older adults.

Crocheting helps seniors stay mentally sharp by engaging their focus, memory, and problem-solving skills as they follow patterns and count stitches. 

It brings emotional comfort and a sense of calm through its rhythmic motions, reducing stress while providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Socially, crocheting offers opportunities for seniors to connect with others in craft groups or by making gifts for loved ones, building meaningful connections and a sense of purpose.

For the latest programme timings and venues, please click on this link:

Stay Sharp, Stay Smiling
Engaging in craft activities like clay crafting, painting, or decoupage, just to name a few, offers far more than just a creative outlet for seniors—it’s a powerful way to help them stay sharp and feel good.

Encourage focus
Crafting stimulates the brain by encouraging focus, problem-solving, and memory recall. Whether it’s following a set of instructions or choosing the right color combinations, these tasks help keep cognitive functions active and delay mental decline.

Improve hand-eye co-ordination
Many craft activities improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Tasks like cutting and pasting intricate patterns for decoupage or working with clay can help maintain finger dexterity and reduce stiffness in the hands, which is especially beneficial for those with arthritis.

Provide a sense of accomplishment
Crafting provides a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Completing a project can lift spirits, reduce anxiety, and even help fight depression.

Encourages socialisation
Sharing finished pieces with loved ones or participating in group craft sessions also fosters connection and community, which are vital for emotional well-being and fighting loneliness.

For the latest programme timings and venues, please click on this link:  

Sewing is more than a hobby — it’s a fulfilling activity that brings mental, emotional, and practical benefits to older adults. Whether you’re new to it or picking it up again, sewing helps keep the mind sharp, spirits high, and hands busy with purpose.

Provides mental stimulation
Sewing engages both sides of the brain. Tasks like following patterns, measuring fabric, and planning designs strengthen memory, focus, and problem-solving — all of which can help slow cognitive decline.

Unleashes creativity and personal expression
Choosing colors, patterns and styles allows for individuality, while creating items for loved ones or personal use brings joy and purpose, especially in retirement.

Practical skill
Sewing is a practical skill that enables seniors to mend or alter clothing, create household items, and even contribute meaningfully to their families and communities.

Fosters social connections
Group classes and shared projects help build friendships, reduce isolation, and bring joy through shared stories, laughter, and learning.

For the latest programme timings and venues, please click on this link:  

Drum Circle

Learning to play the drums offers a fun and powerful way for seniors to stay mentally, emotionally, and physically active.

Sharpens the mind
Drumming sharpens memory, focus, and coordination by requiring the brain to follow rhythm patterns and sync movements—like a natural brain workout.

Brings Joy & stress relief
Drumming provides a sense of joy, stress relief, and self-expression, lifting mood and building confidence through progress and creativity.

Boosts motor skills
Drumming boosts motor skills, strengthens arms and core muscles, and helps maintain flexibility and joint mobility in a low-impact, rhythmic way.

Creating music together
Joining a class to learn together means the seniors get to play a piece together as well as find other like-minded friends with similar interests! What an excellent way to learn a skill and make friends in the process!

So keep your mind, body, and spirit in sync- join Drum Circles today!

For the latest programme timings and venues, please click on this link:

For the latest programme timings and venues, please click on this link: