The Partnership with Older People in Suffolk

The Partnership with Older People in Suffolk

Nayland „Talkabout‟ Report

Getting Involved and Staying Independent

A discussion about building communities and local services.

Discussion date 22nd

September 2011

Prepared by Deborah Meekcoms, POPS Co-ordinator, Age UK Suffolk

Registered Charity No. 1085900

2 Nayland Talkabout Report 22nd September 2011- Getting Involved & Staying

Independent . A discussion about building communities and local services

Previous POPS reports available on request

Hadleigh Talkabout 7th April 2011

My Space, My Place

A discussion about building communities

Newmarket Talkabout 7th March 2011

Steady As You Go

A discussion about Falls Prevention and local services.

Lowestoft Talkabout 25th November 2010

Steady As You Go

A discussion about Falls Prevention and local services

Woodbrige Talkabout 1st October 2010

Steady As You Go

A discussion about Falls Prevention and local services

Brandon Talkabout 12th July 2010

Keeping an Active Body and Mind

Sudbury Talkabout 22nd March 2010

Living Healthily & Ageing Positively



1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction

3. Feedback

4. Conclusion

5. Recommendations

6. The Next Stage

7. Appendices



1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Partnership with Older People in Suffolk (POPS) works to change

attitudes and services in order to achieve an improved society for older

people in Suffolk. POPS organises group discussion forums in the

county to discuss and make recommendations on key issues which

affect older people in order to inform service delivery in health and social

care.

The Nayland forum was organised in partnership with Babergh District

Council and focussed on the topic of Getting Involved and Staying

Independent. The aim was to identify barriers that prevented people

from getting involved in their local communities and also to explore the

possibility of starting new groups in order to reduce social isolation. One

key aim of the forum was to encourage and support attendees to take

action for themselves, where appropriate, to maintain their own health

and well being. The event included an information stand and talks from a

variety of local organisations to enable attendees to have an increased

awareness of local support services and what is available to them.

29 older people attended the event from Nayland and the surrounding

villages of Boxford, Stoke by Nayland, Assington and Leavenheath.

Attendees were aged between 60 and 99 and of those who completed

the monitoring form (28) the biggest group (12) fell into the 70-79 years

category followed by those aged 80-89 of which there were 5 people.

To encourage discussion representatives of The Bridge Project

(Sudbury), The U3a and Suffolk Sport were invited to speak to our group

about their projects. The group were then asked to consider if similar

projects could work in Nayland and about the elements they liked or

disliked. We also invited the group to tell us how they how they might

want to be involved with any new projects developed as a result of the

forum discussion.

The discussion also included questions about intergenerational projects,

leisure centres, the local and surrounding areas, the Babergh

Community Team and about access to the Internet.



5. Recommendations

Based on the suggestions of our groups this report recommends:

1. Villages in the Nayland area should be supported to explore the

possibility of a village „we will help list‟ that gives details of volunteers

that could help with simple tasks such as shopping, changing light bulbs

collecting prescriptions, answering „how to‟ computer questions.

Schemes based around volunteers providing „practical‟ support may

encourage older men to become involved in their local community.

Support from a designated co-ordinator could enable people to volunteer

on an ad-hoc basis thus not committing to a regular amount of given

time. The Good Neighbour scheme offered by Suffolk Acre may meet

these requirements and the community team in Babergh may wish to

facilitate meetings between them and attendees at the forum.

2. Processes that enable „generations working together‟ in a local area

need to be developed. The forum group were interested in local school

children helping older people with technology such as mobile phones

and computers and older people being encouraged to „help‟ out in

schools. Projects such as those developed by Age UK Suffolk with the

year six students in the primary school in Shotley giving computer

lessons to older people were thought to be an excellent initiative

3. There was significant interest from the forum group in Health walks,

gentle exercise classes, U3A and being able to use Fit Villages project

as a mechanism for generating new local classes. Better ways of

promoting new initiatives and interest groups at local levels need to be

identified if villages and communities are to be encouraged to engage

with new activities.

4. Information relevant and specific to older people needs to be widely

available and cover a wider geographical area than just the local village.

The forum group felt that their village newsletter was good for „local

news‟ but they were less aware of relevant services, facilities and

information from e.g. Sudbury (the local market town).

5. Village Halls and common rooms in sheltered housing schemes are

highly valued and should continue to be the hubs of communities and

utilised fully wherever possible.



2. INTRODUCTION

The Partnership with Older People in Suffolk (POPS) has eight key

aims:

To promote positive ageing and healthy living; to develop ways to help people stay independent, and living in their own homes; to challenge perceptions of what older people want and what they can and can‟t do; to promote better access to information across Suffolk, particularly in rural areas; to empower older people to continue to participate in community life; to support the work of Suffolk Older People‟s Council; to champion the contributions people make to the arts, music and culture; to develop a more integrated approach amongst organisations and service providers, in response to an ageing society.

The POPS programme of activity includes organising regular consultation groups with older people and organisations across the County. These forums are organised by the POPS Co-ordinator at Age UK Suffolk to enable people in later life to contribute to the development of appropriate services and support mechanisms in health and social care. Discussion topics at forums are approved through the Suffolk Older People‟s Council and reports distributed to a range of organisations including statutory, public, private, health and voluntary sector partners.

The programme of forums for 2011-2012 continued in Nayland with one key topic: „Getting Involved and Staying Independent focusing on Building Communities. There were 5 discussion groups each facilitated by representatives from Babergh DC, WSLSP, and Age UK Suffolk.

The discussions were interspersed with presentations from The U3A, The Bridge Project, Age UK Suffolk, Crossroads and Suffolk Sport. Our attendees were encouraged to take part in chair based exercise demonstration that was given by Sue Longhurst from Babergh DC and the day was completed with a sing along session by Bridget Cousins from Suffolk Artlink.

Each attendee took part in free raffle and received a complimentary bag on leaving which contained useful information and energy saving resources that were donated by Anglia Water, The Suffolk Climate Change Partnership and local services.



3. FEEDBACK

3.1 Building Communities

To encourage discussion representatives of The Bridge Project

(Sudbury), The U3a and Suffolk Sport were invited to talk to our group

about their projects. The group were then asked to consider if similar

projects could work in Nayland and the surrounding areas and about the

elements they liked or disliked. We also invited the group to tell us how

they how they might be involved with any new projects should they be

created.

The discussion also included questions about intergenerational projects,

leisure centres, the local and surrounding areas, the Babergh

Community Team and about access to the Internet.

All of the projects were well received and there was genuine surprise

that so many activities were available to older people. Our groups told us

that they liked the U3a model that included lots of different activities

which are inclusive and sustainable. They also liked the idea of a local

lunch club being able to deliver hot meals locally, a service which The

Bridge Project currently offers. It was thought that it was useful to hear

about the projects “but how would they work in a village?” and that there

may be a “problem identifying someone to take charge”

Transport again was highlighted as a barrier that would prevent people

from joining in. We were told that „Free transport only after 9.30am is a

disadvantage, sometimes, an earlier bus might help‟ but people also

spoke about “car share” and “Volunteer Drivers in Leavenheath” as

possible options.

Our attendees came from Nayland and the surrounding villages of

Boxford, Stoke by Nayland, Assington and Leavenheath and as such

many of the responses were given in relation to these villages. One

person told us that “Leavenheath Village Hall is the Nucleus of the

village but we badly need basic resources such as a shop” and another

that “Leavenheath is a very caring village; there is a real community

spirit”.



Assington residents told us that there were activities available but that

“the village hall was not used to capacity”. They liked the Fit Village idea

but it was accepted that “some elderly don‟t go out” and that “face to

face is needed to encourage people to join in”.

It was recognised that Boxford Village Hall does have lots of regular

activities that are “ok for people who can do these things” and it was

suggested that “Boxford may well be interested in a luncheon club‟ “and

that people “would like more community outings”.

Our groups told us there are already lots of clubs and that new activities

should not compete with these but that they “should complement them”.

They suggested that there could be taster sessions for canoeing, chair

based exercise, Nordic Walking and that it would be useful to establish if

people did have similar interests within the villages. It was accepted that

men tend to be less involved with groups than women and people told

us that perhaps new activities and groups could try to address this. It

was suggested that activities such as helping people in their gardens or

perhaps with computing may appeal to men and encourage them to get

involved within their communities.

We asked how we might get older people involved in developing their

communities and there were similar responses from each of our five

small discussion groups. The importance of access to information was

felt to be as important as transport when trying to encourage older

people to take part. Our groups suggested that there should “be more

publicity about what‟s going on” and that “a magazine focussed more on

older people, or a section in an existing one might help”. People also told

us that there should be a scheme in place that could help to “make it

easier” for people to join “cIosed groups”.

The importance of volunteering was highlighted and many useful

suggestions were made as to how older people might be encouraged to

volunteer and become involved with their communities. One person told

us that perhaps “the terminology „volunteer‟ could be changed to „help

and support” and it was suggested that each village could have a “we

will help list of volunteers” who could help with small tasks such as

taking people to the doctors, changing light bulbs and shopping. Our

groups thought that it would be useful to have a “champion volunteer to

delegate jobs” and perhaps there could be a committee who organised

“a rota of volunteers” who could offer a back up service should a regular

volunteer need to take a break.



3.2 Do you feel part of your community?

We asked whether people felt a part of their community and what made

them feel excluded. The majority did feel part of their communities and

attributed that to having “good neighbours” and “community support”. An

example of this is was an 86 year old person in Hintlesham who takes

her friend shopping as there are poor bus services. One person told us

that “living in sheltered helps as we know each other and there is always

someone to natter to”, and another that they “like the village feel” and

the fact that they “can catch up at the village shop or on the bus”. It was

felt by some that there was a lack of development and new houses to

“bring in new people” and the “purpose of the village has changed” as

young people commute.

Our groups thought that there was a need to “break barriers” when

welcoming new residents into the village and we were told about

welcome packs that are produced by the church for new residents in

some of the villages.

There were many examples given of community involvement including a

Home Group where neighbours invite each other in on a Thursday for a

coffee and the availability of coffee, dominoes and cards on a daily basis

at the local pub. In contrast one person told us that “the sense of

community was not here anymore” and that the common room in the

Parkers Way Sheltered Housing scheme was under used.

3.3 Intergenerational Projects

There were mixed feelings about intergenerational initiatives and how

we could encourage the generations to interact with each other.

Although it was felt that it was very important for the young and old to

work together on person thought that “ there is an apathy in younger

people to get involved in village life “ and another that “older people

have experiences but younger people may not want to listen”. Our

groups gave some excellent suggestions as to how the generations

could be encouraged to help each other for example, helping children to

read in schools (but they are never asked); babysitting; looking after a

poorly child if their parents need to go to work; younger people could

help older people with technology, and that mixed aged activities should

be encouraged.



3.4 The Community Team and Leisure Officers

We asked people about how they thought the Babergh Community and

Leisure Officers may be able to help them to become further involved

with their communities.

There were many suggestions including exploring after hours transport;

they could help to create theme nights that evoke golden memories; help

to organise community outings; helping to create a community garden;

help to create new activities including Tai Chi and keep fit for over 60‟s

and to set up an initiative for communication (newsletter, magazine,

leaflet drops). Our groups suggested that free swims for the over 60‟s

should be re-instated and that the “community teams need to recognise

that people do not know what is going on in Sudbury”.

3.5 Nayland and the Surrounding Area

Our groups were asked to suggest one thing that they would like to see

in Nayland and the surrounding areas that would help older people to

remain independent for longer. They suggested that there should be

“ more events that bring out the feel good factor” for example dancing

and that don‟t always “depend on the same old suspects”; there should

be improved communication and more opportunities for older men to get

involved, Sesaw, a local charity needs volunteers and would welcome

any support; there could be more community days out for example to a

garden centre for a coffee; it would be useful if more information were

available about new technologies such as Kindles; the community bus

could have improved links as the “catchment area is too restrictive”; a

community car share scheme could be explored and with winter fast

upon us more salt bins and contacts of those who may be willing to help

to clear ice and snow.



3.7 Internet Access

We asked our attendees if they had internet access. 15 people told us

that they did have internet access and a further 4 people told us that

they did not wish to use the internet. It must be recognised that some

people in later life „choose‟ not to use the internet. One person told us

that they thought computers were a “generation issue” and another that

there should be computers for “the terrified!” There were a number of

suggestions made by our groups about how the internet could be made

more accessible to those older people who do wish to access it, in

particular that there could be “local groups in local communities who can

help each other” and perhaps there could be a “volunteer to help to

unscramble IT messes”, perhaps on a monthly basis.

4. Conclusion

The feedback suggests that there are a number of groups and activities

available to older people in and around Nayland but some may not be

aware of them. The availability of transport and information remain to be

two of the key factors that can help to reduce social isolation. There is a

need with existing groups to make them aware of the barriers that some

older people face when trying to join „closed groups‟ and how they can

be supportive to new older people.

The importance of the role of volunteering was recognised as a way of

maintaining sustainable communities. Health & Safety requirements and

the risk of being required to „over commit‟ can be seen as a barrier to

some. A suggestion that villages could have their own volunteer co-

ordinator to co-ordinate village activities may help to encourage more

volunteers. Projects that encourage working with local schools could

help to encourage younger volunteers and combat generational

misconceptions.

Older people want to be Informed, Involved and Independent and with

the support of local services and groups we can give them the best

possible chance of achieving this aim.



5. Recommendations

Based on the suggestions of our groups this report recommends:

1. Villages in the Nayland area should be supported to explore the

possibility of a village „we will help list‟ that gives details of volunteers

that could help with simple tasks such as shopping, changing light bulbs

collecting prescriptions, answering „how to‟ computer questions.

Schemes based around volunteers providing „practical‟ support may

encourage older men to become involved in their local community.

Support from a designated co-ordinator could enable people to volunteer

on an ad-hoc basis thus not committing to a regular amount of given

time. The Good Neighbour scheme offered by Suffolk Acre may meet

these requirements and the community team in Babergh may wish to

facilitate meetings between them and attendees at the forum.

2. Processes that enable „generations working together‟ in a local area

need to be developed. The forum group were interested in local school

children helping older people with technology such as mobile phones

and computers and older people being encouraged to „help‟ out in

schools. Projects such as those developed by Age UK Suffolk with the

year six students in the primary school in Shotley giving computer

lessons to older people were thought to be an excellent initiative

3. There was significant interest from the forum group in Health walks,

gentle exercise classes, U3A and being able to use Fit Villages project

as a mechanism for generating new local classes. Better ways of

promoting new initiatives and interest groups at local levels need to be

identified if villages and communities are to be encouraged to engage

with new activities.

4. Information relevant and specific to older people needs to be widely

available and cover a wider geographical area than just the local village.

The forum group felt that their village newsletter was good for „local

news‟ but they were less aware of relevant services, facilities and

information from e.g. Sudbury (the local market town).

5. Village Halls and common rooms in sheltered housing schemes are

highly valued and should continue to be the hubs of communities and

utilised fully wherever possible.



6. The Next Stage

This report is distributed to a wide range of people and organisations to ensure that the views of the people at this forum have the opportunity to feed into current and future planning. It is the intention of POPS to work with relevant organisations receiving this report to encourage action and change for the benefit of all older people in the County.

On behalf of Babergh District Council and Age UK Suffolk the POPS Co-ordinator would like to thank all those who participated and gave their time freely to support people in later life.

7. APPENDICES

Appendix A: The Programme

10.15-10.45

Arrival & Registration Tea & Coffee

All

10.45- 10.50

Introduction Debbie Meekcoms, POPS Co-ordinator Age Concern Suffolk

10.50- 11.35

Talks about local activities and social initiatives

Henry Tapp – Suffolk Sport Maggie Andrews – U3a Anesta Newson – Bridge Project

11.35-12.30

Brainstorming Session Discussion all

12.30-1.00

An introduction to chair based exercise

Sue Longhurst Babergh DC

1.00 – 2.00

Lunch All

2.00 – 2.20

Some info about local services

Jo Collins-Age UK Suffolk

2.20- 2.40

Fire prevention & safety Paul Chapman Suffolk Fires Service

2.40 – 3.00

Some info about local services Jan Britten – Crossroads

3.00- 3.30

A rousing end to the day Bridget Cousins Artlink Culture Club

3.30 – 3.45

Feedback & Farewells Debbie Meekcoms/Sara Jackson



Appendix B: The Bridge Project Sudbury

The Bridge Project Sudbury at Bradbury

Courtyard

The Bridge Project Sudbury, is based in the market town of Sudbury, Suffolk it

was setup in 1995 as a local charity to assist disadvantaged adults within the community.

The project strives to work towards its vision, ‘a community within a

community’, an inclusive place where everybody is treated fairly, with dignity

and respect. Vocational training, continual education and employment

opportunities are provided that are fully accessible in a safe supportive and

welcoming environment for adults who face multiple disadvantage through their

learning, physical and or ‘hidden’ disabilities.

News Extract:

Bridge Projects Big Lottery Fund ‘Local

Food’ Boost

Article courtesy of the East Anglian Daily Times

THE Bridge Project, in Sudbury has secured £16,313 from the Big Lottery Fund „Local Food‟ for their „Seed to Table‟ project, which will see volunteers, students and staff working together to produce food for the charity‟s kitchens.

The charity provides a safe and encouraging environment for people with learning and „hidden‟ disabilities.

Many students can learn catering and cooking skills at the Bridge preparing and serving refreshments to people at their community Cafe on Gainsborough Street.

The charity also runs a popular lunch club for older people three times a week and operates a lunch delivery service for housebound residents in streets nearby.

“We‟ve always focussed on fresh, locally sourced ingredients here, so at last getting the resources to produce our own fruit and veg on site is wonderful, definitely reducing our carbon footprint,” said chief executive Anesta Newson.

Emma Eynon joins the team at the Bridge, bringing with her hands on experience of delivering horticultural training to disadvantaged adults. She will work with existing staff and tutors in coordinating and implementing student learning.

“We‟re delighted to have older members of the community from William Wood House already rolling up their sleeves and getting involved,” said Mrs Newson. “It‟s a wonderful cross generational initiative.”

http://www.localfoodgrants.org/



With the growing season in full swing, no time has been wasted in getting things up and running. A new greenhouse is now nearing completion and the implementation of raised growing area, water butts and composition facilities are on the cards this month.

Summer vegetables have been sown already and fresh salad ingredients have already made their way in to the kitchens.

“We are on the lookout for more volunteers,” Mrs Newson added. “The project is a wonderful way for our students to mix with different people and learn life skills as well as acquiring the practical know-how to grow fruit and vegetables. If you would like to get involved, contact us on 01787 313691.

Appendix C: Sesaw Charity

S.E.S.A.W. Is a registered charity, (Registered Charity No.

1124029) devoted to the rescue, care and re-homing of any needy

animal, wild or domestic.

We mostly work independently from other charities but assist them if required. The animals we take in come from many different sources, local

vets, social services and members of the public, most have one thing in common they need new homes. However, some of them are either too old

or ill and a foster home has to be found for them so that they can be cared for in a home environment rather than a kennel.

Over the course of a year we home approximately 300 cats, more than 80 dogs and numerous small animals. If appropriate, all our cats and dogs

are neutered. Before any animal is placed, a home visit is made and an agreement signed setting out our terms with the new owner.

Many animals pass through our doors - cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs,

chickens, ducks, geese, peacocks, foxes, pigs, sheep, even a llama! We work independently, but assist other charities if required. The animals we

take in come from many sources, local vets, social services and members of the public.Those that cannot be re-homed are either fostered or cared

for at the sanctuary.We do not put any animal to sleep owing to its age,

ill-health or otherwise, unless advised to by our vet and only then, in the best interests of the animal.

SESAW is based at "Idano", the home of Ron and 'Maggie' Jackaman. Maggie is one of the co-founders of SESAW and works tirelessly for animals in East Anglia. A willing band of volunteers devote hours of

loving care and hard work to form the very backbone of SESAW.

SESAW is open to the public from 10am to 1pm Wednesday to Sunday

at:"Idano", Stoke Road, and (B1068) Leavenheath, CO6 4PP. Tel: 01787

210888 http://leavenheath.org/seasaw.htm

http://www.thebridgeproject.co.uk/volunteering



Appendix D: Fit Villages

16.06.2009 |

Fit Villages

Possible funding opportunity for Village Halls Would you like to play a vital role in

getting you local community more active?

The Active Wellbeing project is a Suffolk Sport initiative, funded through Suffolk

County Council and Sport England. Active Wellbeing works with partners across

Suffolk to deliver sport and physical activity based courses for adults. The aim of the

project is to get the adult population of Suffolk more active, with an emphasis on the

fun and social side of taking part in sport/ physical activity. Active Wellbeing currently

offers introductory courses in a variety of activities, ranging from Golf to Squash,

Pilates to Walking, with some projects targeting specific age groups e.g. older adults.

As a development within the Active Wellbeing project, due to the rural nature of

Suffolk, we would like to trial the idea of using Village Halls as a base for various

activities, thus providing people who live in rural communities the opportunity to

benefit from the Active Wellbeing project at a convenient location.

If successful, this initiative would not only help adults in your community to get more

active, it would also increase the use of the venue and therefore help to ensure the

sustainability of village halls.

The “Fit Villages” project, as part of the Active Wellbeing, is in the early planning

stages and details have yet to been finalised, however, if this is something that you

think could potentially work in your village, please register your interest by contacting

Katrina Maguire, Active Wellbeing Co-ordinator on 01394 444289 or by email

[email protected]

Interested partners will then be contacted with further information in due course.

If you are looking to run a programme of sport / physical activity for young people

aged 11 – 19, then “Sport Unlimited” is another project you may want to learn more

about. Sport Unlimited is a national project funded by Sport England & delivered

locally by Suffolk Sport. Funding can be provided for qualified coaches to work with

young people in local settings.

EXTRACT: http://www.suffolksport.com/



APPENDIX E: U3a (University of the 3rd age)

About the Sudbury U3a

We are members of the national University of the Third Age, an organisation whose members are no longer in full time work and so are in their "third age". Our shared aim is to enable people to participate in mutual learning, pursuing and sharing skills, interests, knowledge and hobbies with each other.

Sudbury U3A was formed in 1989 and now has some 500 members and 50 "Interest Groups". These are small, friendly learning groups made up of anything from six to 30 members who meet simply to enjoy being with others who have similar interests.

We have very well attended monthly meetings, open to the whole membership, when we have a variety of lively speakers. These are followed by refreshments, making them pleasant social occasions. They take place on the last Wednesday of each month at the Delphi Sports and Social Club starting at 10 am.

Membership for 2011/2012 costs £12.00 a year per person.

http://u3asiteb.org.uk/u3asites/code/u3asite.php?site=57

Reproducing Information from Age UK Suffolk ‘VOICE’ and Suffolk

County Council ‘Partnership with Older People’ (POPS) reports

People, organisations or media wishing to use or reproduce information

contained within the above reports may print or download Voice and

POPS reports without requiring specific prior permission. Any quotes or

excerpts taken from the reports must include the source accreditation to

Age UK Suffolk and Suffolk County council.

Deborah Meekcoms Age UK Suffolk Saxon House, Burry St Edmunds, IP32 7EA 01284-757783 [email protected]

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