Islington Celebrates Active Ageing at the 2025 Better Club Games

A record-breaking 1,000 over-60s from across London and the South East came together to take part in this year’s Better Club Games, known as the Festival of Active Ageing. 

Hosted by charitable social enterprise and worker-owned co-op GLL, the main event of the Club Games was held on the 1st October at the Copper Box Arena in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Now in its 19th year and coinciding with the International Day of the Older Person, the event continues to champion physical activity, mental wellbeing and social connection for older adults. Competitors for each team are users of the leisure centres in those areas and benefit from taking part in their chosen sports year round. 

In addition to the main event, other exciting competitions took place in September, including the Timed Swim, which saw teams competing against neighboring boroughs to complete as many lengths as possible. Crystal Palace National Sports Centre also hosted Walking Football, Walking Netball and Pickleball on the 26th of September which saw some great action and some tense finals! 

The Games were officially opened by much-loved TV, theatre, and panto star Su Pollard, who delighted participants by cheering on events, engaging with the audience and co-presenting medals alongside Mayor of Greenwich Linda Bird and GLL Deputy CEO Phil Donnay. 

"As a charitable social enterprise and worker-owned co-op, GLL exists to improve the health of local communities – and nowhere is that clearer than at the Better Club Games,” said Phil Donnay. “We’re proud to support such an inspiring day of fun, fitness, and friendship.” 

This year’s edition of the Club Games saw 20 teams from across London, Surrey, Rugby and beyond compete in 11 sports for the coveted winners title. 

Team Islington, finished in 12th place overall and competed in Swimming, Walking Football, Table Tennis, Badminton, Short Mat Bowls, Darts, Timed Cycle and Dominoes.   

This year, Croydon claimed the Better Club Games 2025 crown with a commanding performance, showcasing impressive team strength across the events. They stood out by securing top three finishes in nearly half of the 11 sports contested! 

While the London event was a flagship celebration, the Better Club Games movement continues across the UK, with similar events taking place in Cumbria, Cornwall, York, Oxfordshire, Cardiff, Belfast and beyond – helping to grow the national conversation around active ageing. 

Want to join Team Islington in next year’s Games? 

Visit your local Better Leisure Centre to find out more or contact Mikael.Kiviniemi@gll.org   

Better Club Games 2025 Results: 

1. Croydon  
2. Hackney 
3. Greenwich 
4. Waltham Forest 
5. Mole Valley 
6. Enfield 
7. Merton 
8. Camden 
9. Hillingdon 
10. Sutton 
11. Reigate and Banstead 
12. Islington 
13. Barnet 
14. Kensington & Chelsea 
15. Lewisham  
16. Ealing 
17. Rugby 
18. Hammersmith and Fulham 
19. Newham 
20. Welwyn Hatfield