Background toAgeing Better in Camden (ABC)
Working together to tackle social isolation and loneliness among older people
“Through participation in the programme, older people will be reconnected to local networks and their involvement will strengthen their communities and improve their wellbeing.”
Ageing Better in Camden (ABC) is one of 14 partnerships funded through the Big Lottery’s Fulfilling Lives, Ageing Better Programme. The Big Lottery is investing £82million in improving the lives of older people, and our programme in Camden is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in this area. The overall aims of the national programme are around piloting new or joined up ways to reduce social isolation and collect better evidence of what works.
Ageing Better in Camden is a partnership of older people and agencies in Camden working closely together to tackle the social isolation and loneliness that many older people in the Borough experience. Age UK Camden is the Ageing Better in Camden lead organisation and is solely responsible to the Big Lottery Fund for the delivery of the programme in accordance with Big Lottery Fund terms and conditions.
Camden’s diverse communities are at the heart of the Ageing Better in Camden approach. The programme will run from July 2015 – June 2021, valued at over £9M. £4.5M of this has been successfully secured from the Big Lottery Fund, with £1.5M in match funding committed, or to be secured from local and wider agencies. About £3M of the contribution will come in the value of ‘in-kind’ voluntary effort by local people, predominantly older people providing support to their more isolated fellow older citizens.
The programme has three themes:
The first theme of working from within communities most affected will apply and test out Asset-based Community Development approaches to tackling social isolation. Having identified that some older people are more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness there will be activities delivered by five of the Borough’s most affected neighbourhood communities (Kilburn, St Pancras Somers Town, Regent’s Park/ West Euston, Gospel Oak/ Haverstock, plus one more to be identified) and two of its minority communities (Bangladeshi, and lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender (LGBT)). Activities building on local resources, expertise and efforts will additionally address: older men’s social isolation; use of computers and the internet; intergenerational activities involving both older and younger people. Through participation in the programme, older people will be reconnected to local networks and their involvement will strengthen their communities and improve their wellbeing.
Ageing Better in Camden’s second theme sees the most socially isolated and lonely older people contacted and supported to build friendships and community links. A large team of volunteer Community Connectors (working in tandem with the NHS-funded Care Navigators), and Pharmacy staff (including those who deliver prescriptions) will identify those most at risk and draw them into local community activities and support. This will be complemented by an innovative internet site giving tailored recommendations on what support and activities are available to people.
Recognising that there is learning from these efforts in Camden to tackle social isolation in older people, the Big Lottery Fund wants to ensure that approaches are tested and lessons learned both locally and wider. Ageing Better in Camden is committed to this ‘test and learn’ approach, and of communicating the change that it’s Asset-Based Community Development approach and targeted innovative initiatives bring about.
As part of its third theme of agencies working together to tackle social isolation and loneliness, the ABC partnership will see many opportunities for older people, communities and delivery agencies to come together to produce and refine activities, and to share how well they are impacting on social isolation as the programme grows and develops. The current Project Plan describes how Ageing Better in Camden builds on partners’ participation in extensive networks - and how they have been recognised by these learning and good practice networks for innovation and effectiveness.
The programme has three themes:
Ageing Better in Camden’s first theme is the identification of socially isolated older people. This is being delivered by 3 projects: Pharmacy project in which pharmacy staff including pharmacy drivers will identify people; Community Connectors, the biggest project with 6 paid staff and a large team of volunteers who will use community networks (eg milkmen or community centres) to identify people and then support and draw them into local community activities. This will be complemented by RecommendMe an innovative internet site giving tailored recommendations on what support and activities are available to people.
The second theme will apply and test out Asset-based Community Development approaches to tackling social isolation. Having identified that some older people are more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness there will be activities delivered by five of the Borough’s most affected neighbourhood communities (Kilburn, St Pancras Somers Town, Regent’s Park/ West Euston, Gospel Oak/ Haverstock, plus one more to be identified) and two of its minority communities (Bangladeshi, and lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender (LGBT)). Activities building on local resources, expertise and efforts will additionally address: older men’s social isolation; use of computers and the internet; intergenerational activities involving both older and younger people. Through participation in the programme, older people will be reconnected to local networks and their involvement will strengthen their communities and improve their wellbeing.
Recognising that there is learning from these efforts in Camden to tackle social isolation in older people, the Big Lottery Fund wants to ensure that approaches are tested and lessons learned both locally and wider. Ageing Better in Camden is committed to this ‘test and learn’ approach, and of communicating the change that it’s Asset-Based Community Development approach and targeted innovative initiatives bring about.
As part of its third theme of agencies working together to tackle social isolation and loneliness, the ABC partnership will see many opportunities for older people, communities and delivery agencies to come together to produce and refine activities, and to share how well they are impacting on social isolation as the programme grows and develops. The current Project Plan describes how Ageing Better in Camden builds on partners’ participation in extensive networks - and how they have been recognised by these learning and good practice networks for innovation and effectiveness.
Ageing Better in Camden has a Strategic Board which informs and supports the effective management, co-ordination and delivery of the programme.
Following a development phase, the substantive delivery of ABC began in July 2015 (the start of year 1 of 6).
Full details of the Ageing Better in Camden Project Plan and progress isat: Ageing Better in Camden but a summary of achievements and challenges since July 2015 is as follows:
The ABC core team at Age UK Camden is Corinna Hyman (job-share Programme Manager), Corinna Gray (xxxxPartnership Development Officer), Claire Hackshall (Training,Events and Monitoring Administratorxxxx) and the other job-share to be appointed followinga resignation.
The local evaluation contractors appointed are The National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) and work has been undertaken to join their work up with that of the national evaluators Ecorys, but some delayed decisions on data sets have presented a challenge.
Kilburn Older Voices Exchange is delivering the Kilburn Community Action Project.
North London Cares has begun delivering the Men’s Action Project and Intergenerational Project.
Camden Community Centres Consortium (C4) has begun delivering the Community Connectors Project.
The Mary Ward Centre is delivering the digital inclusion project.
Origin Housing has been recently appointed to deliver the Somers Town and St Pancras Community action Project.
Opening Doors LondonLGBT Connects (based at Age UK Camden) is delivering the LGBT buddying service
A successful launch event was held on 12th November with a bespoke Aardman video.
In addition to the website, ABC has developed a social media presence and undertaken much engagement with older people, communities and organisations, but much remains to be undertaken in terms of marketing including formalising a strategy.