Story added: 27th May 2022

Retired primary school teacher, Tim Pigney tells us how Extra Time has been life-changing both on and off the pitch

“Joining Extra Time has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It is a major part of my life, and I can’t imagine life without it.”

The words of Tim Pigney, a retired primary school teacher, who joined our Extra Time programme back in 2013.

Having been in the world of education for so long, retired life for Tim was initially claustrophobic and he felt increasingly isolated.

Those first Extra Time sessions proved to be a breath of fresh air.

“It allowed me to expand my social network and interact with people from all walks of life, as opposed to just people from academic backgrounds,” he recalled.

Keeping active and maintaining fitness levels had always been a big part of Tim’s life, but Extra Time gave him the opportunity to play sport for his own pleasure and mental wellbeing, too.

Both the group’s friendly camaraderie and sporting spirit is something that Tim loves about Extra Time:

“The programme allows for both competitive and casual games, so there’s a mixture of seriousness and joking about depending on your preference.”

As well as the range of new sports that the programme has allowed Tim to try (including volleyball and pickleball), the social element of the weekly session has given him the opportunity to develop another of his passions.

“I am particularly grateful to Extra Time for giving me the opportunity to run my music quizzes. I love a project to get my teeth stuck into, and preparing these quizzes is a challenge but something I thoroughly enjoy. The positive feedback I get is very uplifting mentally […] it gives you a sense of belonging.”

The combination of quizzes and hearing from guest speakers during the weekly social hour have, according to Tim, helped keep him mentally sharp and stimulated.

But it’s socially where his decision to join Extra Time has been the most life-changing; Tim met his current partner Carole at the sessions.

“She’s been wonderful and improved my quality of life drastically.”

To find out more about the programme, visit our Extra Time page.