Activity Buddies: promoting quality of life for older people together

A higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) grant through a university wide, South East Coastal Communities (SECC) funded a number of Community of Practices (CoP) projects.

The Activity Buddies: promoting quality of life for older people together was an extension of the successful work carried out by University of 91快活林 staff and local community organisations in the Activity Buddies: quality of life for older people’s project funded by 91快活林 and Sussex Community Knowledge Exchange (BSCKE). The Activity Buddies project was an opportunity for students and older people to engage in activities related to the student’s subject area. This buddy relationship involved engaging mental abilities and skills as well as health related physical activities, which ultimately have purpose and meaning to the individuals or group.

Project aims

The SECC funding provided the project team with the opportunity to build and develop further successful intergenerational models for shared learning and research opportunities. The project continued to have the aim of developing activities to focus on improving health and wellbeing of older people in the local older people’s community that might fall into the ‘vulnerable’ and ‘hard to reach’ groups.

Project impact

The project findings highlighted a positive impact on students learning opportunities to apply their knowledge within a community setting. Providing opportunities to better understand the issues related to ageing and the concerns and barriers older people might have in accessing advice, information or access to health care, activities generally. The project also strengthened working relationships with local voluntary agencies and has provided a solid foundation to further collaborative research projects being developed.

Research team

Professor Ann Moore

Lisa Hodgson

Dr Raija Kusima

Mr Mike Ellis-Martin (School of Pharmacy and Bimolecular Sciences)

Professor Gaynor Sadlo

Paula Riley

Dr Elizabet Harrison ( University of Sussex, School of Anthropology)

Fiona Brophy (Age UK – 91快活林, Hove and Portslade)

Output

Consensus Conference

Report

A developed and more informed research agenda for future research

Integrated intergenerational programmes into the teaching and learning curriculum

Increased network and links with the local community older people’s community and statutory and voluntary agencies

Partners

Age Concern Eastbourne

Queen Alexandra Cottage Homes

The local older people’s community

WRVS

Age UK 91快活林, Hove and Portslade