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About, Awards, Links – and Photos (by Chris Foster Photography)

Dr Tine Buffel wins a Social Responsibility Making a Difference Award

Tine

(22 May 2015)

Dr Tine Buffel, School of Social Sciences and MICRA, was the winner of the University of Manchester “Outstanding Local Community Collaboration” award for her project, Manchester Ageing Study.

In this project, Tine works together with older residents, community organisations and Manchester City Council to produce research and identify actions and strategies to improve the age-friendliness of local neighbourhoods. An important feature is the active involvement of older people, who were trained as co-researchers, in all stages of the project.

The project focusses upon both researching and working with older people living in areas of high deprivation with a view to improving their experience of living in the city. It builds on policy priorities in the context of the Council being an active member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network of “Age-Friendly Cities” (2007:12), these defined as encouraging active ageing in order to enhance quality of life as people age. The project builds on a key principle developed by the WHO: the idea of prioritizing the role of older people in developing research and action plans to improve the age-friendliness of their neighbourhood.

Through collaborative work with community organizations across three neighbourhoods in South Manchester, 18 older residents from different ethnic groups were trained to become co-researchers in the project. They have played a key role in all stages of the research, including the planning, design and implementation phases. Training sessions focused on designing interview questions, data collection and sharing/translating findings. The co-researchers conducted 68 interviews with difficult-to-reach older people about their needs to age well in the community. They also worked together with local community organisations to develop actions and strategies for social change on the basis of the research findings. In addition, 14 focus groups were held with community stakeholders to collaboratively identify opportunities for improving the age-friendliness of the different neighbourhoods.

In the next couple of Weeks we will see the release of a production film featuring the co-researchers that highlights the impact of research on ageing, urban environments and inequalities. Also, as the project nears completion Tine, with the help of her co-researchers, will release a booklet focussing on the process of involving older people in the research process.

For more information about the awards please follow the link below:


Trailer for ‘Researching Age-Friendly Cities’. A film funded by the School of Social Sciences, The University of Manchester.
Full Film available soon. (Planned film showing event at JNR8 with popcorn coming up – date tbc!)

 

Photos by Chris Foster Photography: http://www.chrisfosterphotography.com/

 

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Chris Foster Photography

Together Dementia Walk & Talk Group

walk

Our WALK & TALK GROUP has just started and we had a lovely stroll in the sunshine on Wednesday, followed by tea and cake under the verandah of the pavilion.  So, come rain or shine, we will be in the Russell Street entrance/car park of Alexandra Park at 10.45am, ready to walk at 11.  We will stroll for approximately 50 minutes and then have refreshments in the pavilion, before leaving at 12.30pm.  Gillian will lead the walk, assisted by our volunteers.  The walk is open to people living with dementia and relatives/carers.  You can just turn up but, if you phone first, then we can look out for you.  Walking is widely recognised to be of great benefit to all of us but particularly to people with dementia as it boosts circulation, relieves stress and lifts your mood.  It can also help you to sleep better.  With friendly people to chat to and different aspects of nature to observe, it should give you an improved sense of fitness and wellbeing.  And if you need to build up your stamina, dont worry, as there are plenty of benches to rest on!

Light Up Your Life! Celebrate 2015

celfest

To celebrate International Year of Light, we have six themes to the Festival

Performance/Information stalls/marquees/displays…

  • The light fantastic: dance, performance, music, movement, exercise, visual light show
  • the light touch: technology, computers, photography, healing and therapy, health and well-being
  • I see the light: celebrating diversity: representation from all of the faith groups and cultures in our diverse community, mindfulness, meditation and positivity
  • light for the future: looking at sustainability and sustainable resources, raising awareness of environmental issues, solar power
  • light and flight: to infinity and beyond, the night sky, the moon, space travel and technology, raising aspirations in employment in the field of STEM technology, space exploration, sustainable travel
  • Light Up Your Life: the ultimate theme of the Festival: participation, engagement, reducing isolation, getting to know your neighbours,

The International Year of Light

IYL2015 is a global initiative adopted by the United Nations to raise awareness of how optical technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to worldwide challenges in energy, education, agriculture, communications and health.

The website contains some fascinating information, an events calendar including UK events…

And our Celebrate Festival!

(Bit ambitious but why not!)

http://www.light2015.org/Home/Event-Programme/2015/Other/UK-Celebrate-Community-Festival.html

We need better retirement, not compulsory retirement – Harry Leslie Smith

While Blackpool magistrates are protesting against retirement at 70, many are forced to keep working. They need a better chance of a stable, financially secure old age.

From birth to death our lives are marked by milestones that change our personal ambitions our perspectives on loved ones, friends and society. Each chapter in life offers new challenges and rewards, but retirement for some is an episode that is fraught with much angst over lost prestige or financial stability. For me, retirement was like a lucky dip because it meant leaving a rat race that Id been running since the age of seven, when I started my working life as a child labourer. But for others, forced retirement can seem like a death sentence because they define their value in society by their work title.

To a pair of magistrates in Blackpool, their scheduled retirement at 70 as prescribed by law has made them protest against their removal from the bench in verse. They arent wrong to decry in doggerel the fact that while their mental and physical functions are still on top form, their employment by the Ministry of Justice is being terminated. It a valid point considering that in the private sector, mandatory retirement was effectively scrapped a long time ago. It also makes sense that a government that is as driven by market forces as Cameron follows suit and allows those who are able and willing to continue their careers in justice for as long as they are healthy.

However the media focus on those happy few who like their vocation – compared to the majority who work to live – obscures a greater tragedy: those who deserve retirement but cant, due to a never-ending cost of living crisis. I feel very fortunate that I dont have to experience what most modern retirees face today, being forced to work past their sell-by date to keep a roof over their heads. According to the King Fund, 58% of people over the age of 60 have a chronic condition. As the body deteriorates over time, these will worsen, making either their mobility or cognitive decisions more cumbersome.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/13/retirement-compulsory-blackpool-magistrates-70