COMMUNITY
There is a Live Well event on Thursday 1st November 1.00p, - 4.00pm at the Gibson Craig Halls, Currie where there will be information about groups, activities and support available for older people in Currie, Balerno and Juniper Green, along with some entertainment and Balerno, Currie and Juniper Green are rich in activities to community activities and support for older residents, try. but face particular challenges due their location and ageing population. There is currently limited support for people who struggle to get out and about.
South West Villages Project: Keeping Connected As We Age
So a project focusing on the issues of isolation, connectedness and well-being amongst older people here is underway, led by the Eric Liddell Centre with funding from the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership. It is underpinned by growing evidence on the impact that keeping connected has on your physical and mental wellbeing, whatever your age. Caroline Clark, Development Officer for the South West Villages Project has been mapping existing services and activities along with consultation with local people to identify priorities and improvements for the future. Between now and the end of the year, she is looking to promote existing activities and support available in the area, make connections between organisations, groups and health and social care services, and to help source funding or develop new ideas where gaps have been identified. Many ‘city wide’ services that provide companionship and befriending are currently unavailable in the villages as they struggle to recruit local volunteers and existing volunteers are reluctant to travel far. Another issue is the vulnerability of some of the small local groups which are almost entirely run by volunteers, many of whom are getting older themselves. Many groups struggle to get volunteers for their management committees, particularly in supporting finance and management tasks. @KonectMagazines
Caroline is at the early stages of looking to see if we can bring some of the groups together in a supportive forum, possibly supported by a larger voluntary organisation such as the Eric Liddell Centre, to help ensure the sustainability of these groups for the future. Caroline is keen to hear from anyone who is interested in the project, has ideas for how to connect with isolated individuals, or suggestions for the future. “If people have ideas on how to reach isolated individuals, or those who would benefit from this information, I would love to hear from them,” says Caroline. “If you can volunteer to deliver city-wide services locally, I would also love to hear from you.” Please contact Caroline on 0131 357 1277, or email clarkc@ericliddell.org This article was contributed by Caroline Clark, Development Officer for the South West Villages Project, a project delivered by The Eric Liddell Centre. The Eric Riddell Centre is a registered care charity specialising in care for older people and dementia services. www.ericliddell.org BALERNO | 47
