Agenda item

Jane Holliday, the Chief Executive Officer from Age UK Barnsley, will update the North East Area Council about the work of the Social isolation and Dementia commission across the communities of the North East Area Council.

Following the update, Councillors will be asked to decide whether they would like to maintain, and fund, the extra service provision for the Social Isolation and Dementia initiative until June 2021.

Jane Holliday, the Chief Executive Officer from Age UK Barnsley, provided a detailed update to the North East Area Council about the work of the Social isolation and Dementia commission.  The contract began 1st July 2019 and is due to end 30th June 2021 at a contract value of £30,000 a year which includes £5,000 from Age UK Barnsley.  Staffing consists of two part time workers providing 1 FTE with a team of volunteers supported by a Manager with a purpose of providing support for socially isolated older people, especially those with dementia, by developing opportunities within the community and promoting dementia friendly businesses and groups. 

However, from March 2020 and the first Covid-19 lockdown the project changed quickly and involved shopping, collecting medication, emergency boxes and wellbeing boxes, contact calls, reassurance, signposting, telephone befriending, garden visits and outdoor walks.  There have also been two cycles of themed home-based activities.  The wellbeing boxes contained a minimum of £45 worth of goods and were very well received, with 110 distributed across the area.  Hot Christmas Day dinners were delivered to homes from Chilli Grill.  The project has continued to evolve with the further lockdowns, working with partners such as supermarket chains and local care homes. 

Following the update, Councillors were asked to decide whether they would like to maintain, and fund, the extra service provision for the Social Isolation and Dementia initiative until June 2021.

RESOLVED that Age UK Barnsley is funded to maintain the additional service provision by the Social inclusion Workers in the North East Area communities

until June 2021 at a cost of £5,000.