On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sidcup Storyteller looks a little different.
The library – usually closed on those days – now hums with yoga mats, folding chairs and the low thrum of conversation as residents aged 50 and over gather for tai chi, Pilates, singing and the occasional Fitness MOT. The initiative, called Live Well, Age Well, is a pilot aimed at helping older residents stay active, independent and socially connected.
In a borough where the ageing population is growing – and where isolation and inactivity are persistent concerns – the building has been quietly repurposed as an Ageing Well Hub.
Prevention, Not Prescription
The project is funded by NHS South East London Integrated Care Board and delivered through the Bexley Health & Wellbeing Partnership in collaboration with the London Borough of Bexley.
Its logic is straightforward: invest early, keep people moving, keep them connected, and the need for more serious interventions later may shrink.
Councillor Brian Bishop describes Sidcup Storyteller as “a landmark building at the heart of Sidcup High Street” and says the pilot brings it to life on days it would otherwise be shuttered. Councillor Melvin Seymour points to the evidence linking community activity with stronger mental, physical and cognitive health.
Behind the policy language is a simple idea – that ageing well is easier done together.
A Hub in the Neighbourhood
The Frognal neighbourhood was selected for the pilot due to signs of loneliness and inactivity among older residents. The programme is open to those aged 50 and over in Sidcup, Foots Cray, Lamorbey, Blackfen and Bexley Village, whether managing existing health conditions or simply looking to try something new.
Sessions range from tai chi and yoga to drawing classes and group singing. They are free, informal and, crucially, local.
Diana Braithwaite, Director of Integrated Strategic Health & Care for Bexley, said the hub reflects a broader NHS push to shift services from hospitals into communities and focus on prevention rather than cure.
The library’s usual opening hours – and the adjoining cinema – remain unchanged. But twice a week, the shelves share space with stretch bands and sketchpads.
Ageing, the project suggests, is not a private endurance test. It is a communal affair – and, with the right setting, one that can be approached with a little more movement and a little less isolation.
