AN OLYMPIC legacy for the over-50s is one of the aims of a new scheme launched in Dorset.

The Mind Your Head Dorset Mind Challenge, which kicked off with a special launch event at Kingston Maurward College near Dorchester, hopes to stimulate the minds of over-50s to improve their mental well-being.

The event welcomed the first ‘brain cells’ – a network of people and groups that will be encouraged to recruit members and work with each other.

The scheme, run by the Phoenix Legacy with support from The Brain Trust Charity, will continue its work over the next 12 months to introduce people to a wide range of these brain cells.

Then, on Sunday, August 12 next year, there will be a major conference and exhibition to bring together all that work.

Phoenix Legacy founder Rosemary Barfoot said the team behind the project hoped to carry on after that to create a lasting legacy for the county’s over-50s.

She said: “We hope it will go on and be sustainable. The idea is to create a legacy from the Olympics for the over 50s in Dorset.”

Explaining the brain cells, Mrs Barfoot said: “A brain cell is any organisation or activity that provides mental stimulation – we’ve got things like the University of the Third Age, Adult Learning, Kings Cribbage and the Chess Association.

“They are all registered and we encourage them to recruit new members over 50 to form links with each other.

“Some of the brain cells have already done that. The Chess Association has linked with the U3A chess group and a cryptic crossword designer has linked up with Age UK to run a series of courses so we are already getting some success.”

Speaking at the launch was world mind mapping champion Phil Chambers, who was also representing The Brain Trust Charity.

He said: “One of the things that has been proven is the more active the brain is kept later into life the more effective people can be as well as warding of Alzheimer’s and many other benefits.

“Dorset is obviously pioneering the way with this project.”

After the launch event their minds were challenged with the inaugural brain cell chess tournament organised by the Dorset Chess Association. Mrs Barfoot said she was delighted with how the new project had been received.

She said: “It’s been great. We have been really impressed from the start with how positive everyone has been and how supportive.

“We are already getting links formed and we haven’t event started – it’s great.

For more information about the Mind Your Head Dorset Mind Challenge call 01305 261540, email phoenixlegacy@live.com or visit phoenixlegacy.co.uk