Agenda item

Presentation from Age UK Barnsley (Sac.23.02.2018/8)

Minutes:

Jane Holliday from Age UK Barnsley was welcomed to the meeting.  The presentation was entitled ‘Together in Wombwell’ though it was noted that this was a working title.

 

Members were made aware that although brand partners of Age UK nationally, Age UK Barnsley was a local charity and all funds raised in the area were used in the area.

 

Members heard about the services already being delivered in the area, such as the Men In Sheds project, targeting those who would not normally engage in traditional community based activities.

 

The presentation provided statistics to highlight the severity of the problem of isolation and loneliness with 17% of older people in contact with family, friends or neighbours less than once a week, with 11% having contact less than once a month.

 

Members heard of a proposal to provide a worker for 12 months to develop a pilot service to address isolation and loneliness in Cudworth and Wombwell.  These had been chosen as both already had an Age UK Barnsley shop base and had Area Teams considering the issue. The pilot was designed to show what could be achieved working together.

 

Best practice would be used as a starting point, with a commissioned service in Penistone having proving successful.

 

The project was to start on 1st April, 2018, with the worker appointed for 30 hours per week.  15 of these would be in Cudworth, with 15 in Wombwell, focusing on the centres,  rather than the whole of the ward.

 

Members suggested that the project could work well with Live Well Barnsley, engaging residents in local activities, and there were a number of links to be made with existing South Area Council commissions.

 

RESOLVED that:-

(i)            Thanks be given for the presentation;

(ii)          The aims of the project be supported.

Supporting documents:

 

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