ERoSH Northern Ireland engages with age

In November 2007, ERoSH Northern Ireland joined forces with Engage with Age to organise a workshop for all scheme coordinators in sheltered housing schemes across south and east Belfast and Castlereagh District.

Engage with Age is a partnership of community, voluntary and statutory organisations working together to improve the health and well-being of older people in those areas. Over 30 coordinators attended representing six different sheltered housing providers.

The workshop, called 'Bingo and Beyond - How scheme coordinators can enhance tenants' health and wellbeing', included presentations on a variety of projects including community arts, music therapy, sports development and information technology for older people as well as the conservation volunteers, Dig It and Eat It gardening programme. Staff also had the opportunity during group work to consider the difficulties in getting some tenants involved and share ideas and good practice on practical measures to address this challenge.

EWA distributed copies of their good practice guide for working with older people, called 'Bingo and Beyond', and spoke about how they can assist coordinators in providing information on local activities and projects, set up new groups, connect groups to each other and link individuals / groups into different programmes, events, training, funding and low cost transport options.

Feedback from participants confirmed that the workshop was extremely useful for coordinators in generating ideas and raising awareness of local resources, as well as forging links across schemes for joint activities and events.