A community development project, which is already benefitting older people in cities such as Nottingham and Manchester, is being piloted in Bristol. The LinkAge programme (which was launched in September in Bedminster and Southville), has put older people at the heart of every stage of development.
‘This project is all about improving the health and wellbeing of older people. What people say they want will vary according to where they live,’ says Katie Currie, Quality of Life Manager at Bristol City Council. The City Council is one of the partners (along with Age Concern Bristol), in a group of service providers that are supporting the project.
The first step has been to find out what activities and services older people want in their local areas. Questionnaires have been distributed to older people living in Bedminster and Southville area, and they have been canvassed by consulting members of luncheon clubs and other neighbourhood groups. Clive Jones, the development worker for Linkage in this area, has also made a point of extending the research to the harder to reach members of the community. “We want to get the views of everyone we can, this has involved talking to people as they go about their everyday lives at the local supermarket and in cafes and pubs,” says Clive.
From the research undertaken so far, getting out and meeting people, feeling safe, and the opportunity to do some gentle exercise on a regular basis are all key concerns for older people living in Bedminster/Southville. Some older people have formed a local steering committee. As a group, they consider all the views received and make decisions on which services and activities are most in demand and how they are to be delivered.
Projects already up and running in Bedminster and Southville include:
- Local walks along the Malago Greenway which combines gently paced exercise and a chance to learn about local history
- A men’s group, which will share carpentry skills and do woodwork projects such as making bird boxes.
Other plans include:
- Intergenerational choir which would meet in a local school
- Providing services such as foot care and welfare advice for people where they live, for instance in the community rooms of tower blocks or sheltered housing.
“Every one of these groups provides a new opportunity to get more in depth information about what older people really think and what opportunities they want,” says Clive.
LinkAge is a project which aims to find gaps in local services and fill them. However, it also serves a substantial role in complementing what is already in place. The aim is to make existing groups, services and clubs much more accessible to those who live locally. “Many people are isolated and yet they have no idea what is available on their doorstep," says Clive. One woman recently told Clive, “If you cannot make the five minute walk to get there, you might as well live an hour away.”
There are plans to create a directory of clubs, groups and regular meetings in the area. “There are some really wonderful groups which are run by older people for older people,” says Clive, “like the luncheon club run in St Francis Church in Bedminster three times a week which serves 70 people.”
LinkAge is working at a grassroots level helping people get help for themselves. Tnis may come in the form of accessing information and getting advice, learning new skills or simply getting out and about and making new friends. LinkAge also provides volunteering opportunities to older people. “The benefits to older people in helping others cannot be underestimated,” says Clive. “Many older people have told me they wish they had stayed in work longer, perhaps on a part-time basis. They still want to feel useful and want to use their skills. Volunteering meets a real desire in older people to feel needed and to share.”