CALL - ME - Keele University · CALL-ME Annual Report October 2010 2 Keele University Research Team Principal Investigator Michael Murray Co-Investigators Sian Maslin-Prothero

CALL-ME Annual Report October 2010

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CALL - ME Community Action in Later Life – Manchester Engagement

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Promoting independence and social engagement

among older people in disadvantaged communities

ANNUAL REPORT

October 2010

Part of the New Dynamics of Ageing Research programme

(Grant Reference RES-352-25-0031)

Research Institute for Life Course Studies Claus Moser Research Centre

Keele University Keele

Staffordshire ST5 5BG

Tel. 01782 734596


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Keele University Research Team

Principal Investigator Michael Murray

Co-Investigators Sian Maslin-Prothero

Thomas Scharf

Roger Beech

Research Associate Friederike Ziegler

Research students Jan Bailey

Sharon Middling

Fieldworker Amanda Crummett

Administrator Kim Rawlinson

Manchester City Council Valuing Older People Team

Team Leader Paul McGarry

Team members Sally Chandler

Jane Morris

Rachel York

Tracey Annette

Patrick Hanfling

Rebecca Bromley


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Contents

Page

I. Introduction ………………………………………… 4

II. Neighbourhood reports

a) Ardwick ……………………… 6

b) Cheetham …………………. 15

c) Moss Side …………………… 20

d) Newton Heath …………… 28

III. Update on survey results …………………… 37

IV. Stakeholder involvement ………………………… 39

V. Policy Implications- a discussion paper…….. 45

VI. Dissemination .…………………………………………. 48

Appendix

1. PhD students ............................................... 53

2. Publicity........................................................ 54

3. Age-Friendly City ......................................... 59

4. Dissemination plan ................................... 64

5. Group Funding…………………………………………. 66


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I Introduction

The CALL-ME project is a three year collaborative and participatory research project that

aims to:

Describe the processes involved in developing local community-based strategies

for promoting enhanced social interaction among older residents of four

disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Manchester.

Evaluate the impact of these activities on improving opportunities for older people.

Develop policy and practice guidelines and procedures for entrenching and

broadening these activities.

This is the third report to the Advisory Board. In it we summarise the range of activities

that we have been involved in since November 2009. At this stage it is important to note

that the project formally ends in February 2011 – approximately 5 months from now. In

the report we hope that we can give an indication of where we have got to in terms of

a) our community activities,

b) our research learnings from the projects,

c) our engagement with stakeholders,

d) our development of policy discussion;

e) our dissemination and impact.

In addition, details on some related activities and impact are provided in the Appendix. This

includes

Details of the research being conducted by the postgraduate students involved in the

project (Appendix 1),

Sample media reports on the project (Appendix 2),

Details of the Public Forum on the Age-Friendly City organised by Manchester City

Council (Appendix 3),

Our dissemination plan (Appendix 4)

Funding accessed by the various community groups (Appendix 5).


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II Neighbourhood reports

Each neighbourhood report is divided into two sections: firstly a report on recent activities

of the groups that we have been working with; and secondly a more detailed account of a

particular aspect of doing participatory action research in order to promote social

engagement among older people.

In Ardwick the focus of the report is on neighbourhood perceptions, in Cheetham the

focus is on the factor influencing social interaction. In Moss Side researchers are reporting

on the importance of making links with professionals working in the communities for

enabling the groups to flourish and in Newton Heath the data analysis focuses on life

course influences on social engagement in later life.

Although the researchers operate as a single unit, in practice researchers work largely in one

of the four neighbourhoods:

Ardwick: Michael Murray and Amanda Crummett

Cheetham: Sian Maslin-Prothero and Jan Bailey

Moss Side: Thomas Scharf and Sharon Middling

Newton Heath: Roger Beech and Friederike Ziegler


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a) ARDWICK

Activities

Ardwick – Young at Heart

This group has now been meeting regularly for over two years. During this period the group

have been involved in a wide range of different activities centred on a series of arts projects

largely located in West Gorton Community Rooms but expanding to include trips outside the

community. Since the last advisory board report the main activities have been:

Recent activities

Wood Cutting/Block Printing - October 2009 The group participated in a two day

wood cutting/ printing workshop. The workshops were led by local artist Ian McKay and

supported by Gorton Visual arts – a neighbouring arts group. The sessions involved learning

the technique involved in wood block printing in order to create original prints depicting the

local neighbourhood. 8 residents participated in the workshop, each producing a unique

print which has been framed and is now on display for the public to view at West Gorton

Community Rooms. The project was funded by Learning Skills & Employment Network.

West Gorton Community Calendar October – Dec. 2009 Working with Gortonvilla

Computer Club, the Young at Heart group produced West Groton’s 1st Community Calendar.

Selecting photographs taken of the local area the residents designed and produced 100

calendars which went on sale at a neighbourhood launch hosted by the group. The sale of

hand made Christmas card produced by the group at the weekly sessions, a visit from Father

Christmas, mince pies and a ‘Grand Raffle’ made the event an exciting occasion and

attracted around 40 local residents. The project was funded through Manchester City

Councils Cash Grants Scheme

Christmas dinner - Dec. 2009 Funds generated through the sale of the community

calendar were used to subsidise a Christmas meal at a local public house for 16 older

residents. Christmas crackers, party hats and the exchange of Christmas cards enhanced the

festive mood and was thoroughly enjoyed by the residents. The group made use of

Community Transport to travel to the venue.

Annual General Meeting - March 2010 Celebrating 12 months as a constituted community

group the Young at Heart held their first AGM. Supported by the research team, Chairperson

Maddy Blakey opened the meeting with a report on the group’s activities and achievements

over the previous 12 months. This was followed by Secretary Audrey Hurley’s report


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highlighting planned activity for the coming year. A report on the group’s finances and

supporting statements from the Ward Coordinator and Housing Provider were read out

before members voted on the relection of a committee and the meeting was opened up to

group members. A full report of the AGM was produced and will be used by the group to

support future funding bids and outside support. The meeting was attended by 17 residents,

the Ward Coordinator and Nova Scarman Trust.

Trip to Llandudno - June 2010 Travelling by Community Transport, residents enjoyed

a community outing to the North Wales seaside resort. With 22 residents aged between 7

months and 85 years - and four generations from one family joining the group, the trip

proved to be a memorable occasion. Arriving at the resort the group made the most of the

good weather enjoying a stroll along the prom, ice cream on the pier, a browse of the shops,

and a ride on the ‘Tourist Train’ before enjoying a meal in a local pub. A sing song on the

return journey rounded off what the residents described a “day to remember” creating a

sense of anticipation for a repeat trip in the future. The cost of the trip (£241.00) was

subsided through group funds raised by the group at weekly raffle etc.

Silk-screen project: June – July 2010 The residents worked for two months with a

community artist on a silk screen project about their neighbourhood. This involved them

taking photographs of the area and developing silk screen prints from these. The group

selected the best of these prints and organised an exhibition of them in the community

rooms for which they had special t-shirts printed. The exhibition was a big success with over

40 participants. The group agreed they had found the project ‘exciting’ and very enjoyable’

and were very proud with the work they had produced and the fact that the project and

exhibition had received publicity in the wider community with an article published in the

Manchester Evening News, The advertiser and This is East Website – www.thisiseast.com

(see Appendix 1).

Grub & Gossip: October 2010 The group received funding through the VOP team

(£50.00) to host a community lunch as part of the Full of Life Festivals “Grub & Gossip”

event. Members of the group prepared home cooked dishes including Soup, Cheese &

Bacon pie, Chicken & Rice, Bakewell Tart, Apple Pie and Scones which was brought along to

the Community Rooms to share with members and residents. The residents described the

event as “an opportunity to relax”, “Get together for a chat” and, as one resident stated

“Eat like kings for a day”. 17 residents + 3 pre school children attended the afternoon.

Current Activities: The group are currently working independently on individual work i.e.

card making, knitting, and painting. 8-9 residents attend on a weekly basis with others

choosing to pop in and out of session or attend events and outings.

http://www.thisiseast.com/


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Planned activities

Art Project: The group are beginning discussions regarding a new art project with local

artist Ian McKay. Continuing with the theme of ‘local life & community’ the group will create

a Mosaic art work illustrating their social & physical environment. The group aim to meet

with Ian mid/late October to discuss project i.e. time line – costs – logistics, including where

the art work will be displayed. Some ideas put forward include the current/new housing

office or the medical centre. The group would have to make an application for funding to

cover all costs of the project. It is expected the project will commence at the start of the

New Year.

Community Development Foundation: October 2010 A member of CDF team will visit

the group to discuss their last project (Silk Screen Printing) and (hopefully) possibilities for

further funding. It is expected that the groups art work & activities will be showcased in the

CDF reports, website etc.

Blackpool Trip: October 2010 After a brilliant day at the seaside resort last October,

16 older people will enjoy a return trip to Blackpool Illuminations. The group will use

community transport and fund the trip (£194) from funds raised through the sale of the

groups arts work i.e. silk screen prints and money raised at the weekly raffles.

Christmas Meal: The group would like to repeat last years outing to a pub/eatery to

enjoy a Christmas lunch together in Dec. The group are discussing venues and will confirm

plans in following weeks.


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Research Discussion I

Sense of community and participation in community arts

To develop an understanding of the character of older people’s social lives and the impact

of various social projects it is necessary to consider their social and physical location and

what older people themselves think of their surroundings and of the projects. We were

interested in what the older residents thought of their neighbourhoods, what opportunities

they had for social interaction, and what they thought of the project and of its contribution

to promoting opportunities for social interaction. The following information was collected

from discussions with the participants in the arts project.

Community representations: The older people talked about their community in terms of its

physical location, as a place of identity, as distinct from other areas and as a place in need of

resources. Physically, the community was considered in terms of a small number of streets

with which the older people clearly identified. The older people were able to define the

physical boundaries of their community within which they spent most days. As one woman

said:

“See, we’re a separate community. It’s a political thing that’s lumped us all together

as part of a ward but really we’re our own community and we have been since this

estate was built.” (Female, 64yrs)

The older people separated themselves from others who lived only a short distance away in

similar housing. This sense of distinction included their unwillingness to access services in

nearby districts and conversely drew attention to their own lack of resources. The same

woman continued:

“I know they have things going on in other centres further down but we don’t belong

to them, really those things are for them that live there.” (Female, 64yrs)

This community identity was expanded in the stories the participants told about

their neighbourhood. Most had lived in the area since it was built and recalled memories of

the district in those early days. The stories they told about their neighbourhood were ones

of decline. They recalled extensive local and wider social interaction when they first moved

into the area. People had jobs and income and the local shopkeepers were very proactive in

offering services. They also commented on the role of the local clergy who had previously

been central to organising a range of local social activities. There were several nearby

churches which have since been demolished or converted for other usage. Conversely, the

neighbourhood today was described in terms of limited social opportunities, little social


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interaction with newer residents and no local facilities for social engagement. They explicitly

referred to a loss of a ‘sense of community’. As one participant said:

“It’s all changed since we first came, we used to have all the shops leading down, dry

cleaners, butcher, grocery and clothes shop and the churches, they’ve all gone now.”

The larger supermarkets which had more recently been built outside the area were

less inviting. The women referred to the way local shops used to welcome them and the

local clergy organised events:

“When we first moved we had cards from most of the shops welcoming us and we

had the minister up from the church to see us. He asked me and my husband if we

would help set up a club for the pensioners, brew up and help out like, so that’s what

we did. We used to go down and we would have raffles, potato pie supper. We

would go on outings to different places … See, everybody helped out. If you were

asked to help out and you could, well you did … not just us; lots of people helped each

other. They don’t seem to bother nowadays.” (Female, 83yrs).

The men referred to the loss of the local public house [bar] which was considered

the centre of their social world:

“I mean in the good old days you had the local pub, everybody had their own little

local - the pub was the hub of the community. That’s where all the socialising,

arguing, etc., was done. I mean, don’t forget there was a fire in every pub and when

the lads got in, the cards started. And then the televisions went in and I think that

changed it - the conversation, arguments, joking. And then we had the slum

clearance, that’s when communities were lost. And then we got the drugs, don’t get

me wrong we always had drugs but in my day hard drugs were a rich man’s habit,

the working class couldn’t afford drugs, now they’re on every street corner. Yes, it

was the loss of the local pub and the drugs that destroyed the traditional working

class communities.” (Male, 71yrs).

This perception of material disadvantage was heightened by the city plans to

demolish the houses and to rebuild them. One woman commented “The houses have only

been here for 40 years”, and continued:

“When we first moved here in 1969 they were still building this estate, and we got

plans for what they were going to build and it all looked smashing, green patches

with forms for old people to sit on, ten shops lower down … then they took them

plans and come back with some more and we were getting nothing. We never got

the green patch with the forms and we never got ten shops. That was the first time


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they did the work, 40 years ago now they’re at it again. It’s ridiculous really, because

they never give you what they promise and I don’t think we will be any better off

when they finish.” (Female, 64 yrs.).

This social representation of a distinct and under-resourced community was further

strengthened by the negative social representation they felt others had of their community.

While they accepted that there were a few anti-social individuals in their community the

older people felt that outsiders focused on these individuals to the detriment of the whole

community. One man said:

“There’s some good people on this estate, but you see over the years we’ve been

stigmatised – ‘them up there, they’re this and that’ - but it’s a minority that cause the

trouble and people seem to forget that.”

Thus, while the community might be materially disadvantaged the older people felt that it

still had lots of positive qualities which were often ignored by outsiders. This was also

evident in the rejection of the label ‘deprived’. For example, one woman recalled her

reaction to a regeneration worker who had been collecting information on housing quality

in the district. She said:

“They came here with one of these tick box sheets, and when he’d finished, I said

‘well what’s the verdict’ and do you know what he said, he said ‘I was deprived’.

Have you ever heard such rubbish, all of this [indicating garden] and he said I was

deprived.” (Female, 64 yrs.).

Combining this narrative of decline with a perceived negative social representation

led to a range of reactions. On the one hand there was a limited acceptance of the outside

stigmatisation. This was particularly applied to certain sub-groups within the community.

For example one woman said:

“It seems to me that people round here don’t really care anymore; they don’t seem

interested in getting together and making a shape. These young ones want

everything done for them.”

On the other hand there were various forms of rejection of this stigmatisation. One

form was frustration or repressed anger at being ignored by officialdom. One man said:

“We’re a forgotten area and always have been. When you get the newsletter it’s all

about that end, there’s never anything about us. I think it’s happened because they

give us nothing, well that how it seems to me…We have nothing as far as activities or

opportunities for older people on this estate …we’re very much a forgotten area,

what you might call *us+ the poor relation in comparison to other areas in this ward ”

(Male, 54yrs).


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Once again, the community was being contrasted with neighbouring communities who were

perceived as being unfairly advantaged. Another man added:

“Well you’ve been round, you’ve seen what we’ve got, bugger all (laughing). This

area, and it’s been the same since I moved in, has been forgotten by the powers that

be. Ask the others when you go round, they built this estate and then forgot about it

(Male, 67yrs)

Another form of rejection of the stigmatisation was evident in the hostility shown to local

officials and councillors. As one man said:

“You only see the councillors at election time - then they come banging on your door

wanting your vote, never see hide nor hair of them in between. Don’t ask me what

they do in between because they have done nothing on this estate from what I can

tell you.” (Male 67yrs).

Overall, the older people represented their community as having many positive

features and they strongly identified with it. However, when compared with neighbouring

communities they felt that they were lacking in services and they felt they were ignored by

officialdom.

Reasons for project participation: The primary reason given for participation in the

community arts group was the opportunity it provided for social interaction which it was felt

was generally lacking. Frequently, the participants referred to the limited opportunity for

social interaction. For example, one woman said:

“I just sit in this flat staring at the television or the walls. You get to a point where

you think I can’t cope; I mean, you think what’s the point being stuck in this flat day

in day out.” (Female, 51yrs).

Another who lived in the tower block said:

“They’re (flats) like prisons, you shut the door of that flat - you see no one. If it

weren’t for my carer I could go days without seeing a living soul.” (Female, 66yrs).

Among the participants a frequent complaint was that they had ’nothing to do’. For

example, one woman said:

“I would like to get out more and join in but there’s nothing going on. I couldn’t tell

of any club round here for the old people.” (Female 83yrs).

Another woman added:


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“I only go out for shopping, my son’s girlfriend comes round to see me, otherwise I

just sit in the house.” (Female, 51yrs).

In addition, a minority in the group of participants were particularly attracted by the

opportunity to participate in artwork. These people had some previous involvement in

artwork either recently or when they were younger. The group provided an opportunity to

share that interest with others. For example, one woman said;

“I’ve always liked anything arts and crafts. I like writing poems and making cards but

you don’t seem to see do it on your own…if we got some going, a group of us I’d

really enjoy it, a couple of hours each week to do something, something a bit

different from sitting, cleaning, cooking.” (Female, 53yrs)

Perceived impact of project: At the end of the project, the older people were very

enthusiastic and wanted to continue with the art class and to formally establish a

community arts group. Several benefits at an individual level were identified including sense

of achievement (e.g. “I have achieved something that I didn’t know I could do. Other people

would enjoy this as well; it should be for everybody every week. This sort of activity will go

far with people.” Female, 61yrs) and feeling of creativity (e.g. “I did things I didn’t think I

could do – produced a beautiful piece of art. Very pleased ... makes you use your

imagination.” Female, 57 years)

However, it was the social benefits of the art project to which they most frequently

referred. They talked about the increased opportunity for social interaction and forming

new friendships e.g. “Very pleased with everything that’s happened and everyone’s so

friendly ... seems to be getting people together.” Another added “Very much enjoy the social

interaction which does prove beneficial and gets people out of their homes and adds

lightness to life.” Some of them referred back to their early days in the area and felt that

the project was contributing to community building, e.g. “It seems to be getting people

together.” Another added “I’m very pleased with everything that’s happening for the

community.” The project created a sense of identity and belonging. As one woman said “I

really feel I belong to something and this is time for me”.

Several of the participants referred to the wider impact of the project on the

community. Their comments connected with their earlier narrative accounts of a

community in decline. As one man said:


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‘this social experiment is a success … We’re trying to rebuild our community. I’m

doubtful that we will ever get back what we used to have - that’s not going to

happen but we are trying…’.

Others felt that their project was a challenge to the outside negative social representations

of their community. This was evident in this comment by one of the women:

Everybody’s talking about what we’ve been doing. Even the councillors when they

came to the meetings. See I don’t think they knew we could do these sorts of things,

but then we’ve never had it before, people coming and showing us and giving us a

chance.

Conclusion

These comments were made by the older participants in the early stages of the arts project.

Since then several of the original participants have dropped out and others have joined. It

will be important to investigate these changes in the group. At this stage these comments

by the participants highlight the limited facilities in this particular neighbourhood and their

enthusiastic reaction to the arts project. In other more well-resourced communities with

different histories the experiences and perceptions of older residents would be expected to

be different. Further details of this work are detailed in our publication:

Murray, M., & Crummett, A. (2010). ‘I don’t think they knew we could do these sorts

of things’: Social representations of community and participation in community arts

by older people. Journal of Health Psychology, 15, 777-785.


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b) CHEETHAM

Activities Update

Four Seasons Garden Club

Gardening: The group has continues to work in the garden and as well as planting

hanging baskets and containers were given permission by the housing association to extend

the existing borders which enabled them widen their planting. However, due to the ill

health of members they now require external assistance and regular help from local

volunteers has recently been secured.

During the summer the club had a setback with their bank account and were unable to

access their funds for several weeks. This impacted both on what they could purchase and

on reimbursing members for goods bought. Consequently, they have moved their account

to another bank but now use cash only and the scheme managers keep a small float

available.

The club entered the Manchester In Bloom competition and are waiting to hear the

outcome.

ICT: The scheme has undergone a full refurbishment and now that this has finished the

computer is available to tenants. The scheme managers will be encouraging tenants to use

the equipment and IT training is planned for those who would like it.

Roses and Reels

Gardening: This group is now running autonomously and needs very little input from the

CALL-ME team. They have successfully applied for two grants; one from Greater Manchester

Public Transport Executive for a visit to Heaton Park and another from Manchester City

Council to continue their work in the garden. Their future plans include removing the shrubs

in the car park area and replacing them with flowering dwarf shrubs and installing raised

beds at the side of the scheme for soft fruit and fruit trees.

During the summer they hosted a garden open day which was well attended by tenants,

their friends and families, people from neighbouring houses and management from the

housing association. The deputy Lord Mayor of Manchester opened the event and was

clearly impressed by the work the club had done and spoke about the benefits of such

projects to the health of older people.

The club also entered the housing association and the Manchester In Bloom competitions

and having had some very positive feedback from the judges. The ‘Roses & Reels’


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gardening group have won the ‘Best beds and borders’ in the Johnnie Johnson gardening

competition; this is a great achievement as they only started work on the garden in March

2010.

Feedback from both members of the club and the scheme manager about the garden

project is very positive and they have said that they feel it has brought tenants who did not

know each other before together and has improved the atmosphere in the scheme as well

as the environment.

Cinema: The cinema club intends to start screening films within the next few weeks.

ICT: There have been issues with both the lap tops and the IT training with tenants

considering withdrawing from this project. A meeting is arranged for early October when

the issues and possible solutions will be discussed.

Cheetwood Caribbean Garden Project

Gardening: The group finally took delivery of the raised bed at the end of August and

although it was not as they envisaged have planted it with winter bedding. Unfortunately,

this has been vandalised by local children; this is the second time that this has happened to

the group. They have re-planted the bed and some additional containers but are reluctant

to undertake any further work until the area is more secure. The group are applying for a

grant to fence the area, and will plant more containers, purchase tables and chairs to enable

them to sit outside.

Garden Event

The garden network event took place in April 2010 and was successful; members from all

four garden groups (across the CALL-ME project) attending. Speakers included: Sara Wolfe

from Manchester City Council who spoke about financial and other support available to

community groups; Sarah Hawkins, also from Manchester City Council, who spoke about the

In Bloom competition and the help available to local garden groups; finally, Katherine

Moores from Hulme Community Garden Centre spoke about the garden centre and the

services they offer. Attendees said that they enjoyed the day and had benefited from it.


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Research Discussion II

Working with older residents

This paper reports on our findings following individual and focus group interviews (n=26)

with the three groups we have been working with in the Cheetham Hill and Crumpsall area.

With the exception of one interview, all were digitally recorded and transcribed. The

transcripts were analysed using the constant comparative method. From this five main

themes have been identified: team working; participation; well-being; decision-making; and

discrimination.

Within each of these main themes, sub-themes were identified and these are:

Team working:

o group dynamics,

o motivation,

o leadership,

o collaboration,

o organisation/disorganisation,

o funding.

A participant in one of the focus groups stated: ‘You need a leader to organise - apart from

the staff. You would need someone to organise…’ Focus group 2 20.03.09.

Participation:

o non -participation,

o motivation,

o intergenerational,

o grievances,

o multicultural.

Whilst all those interviewed talked about the benefits of participation, it is not with out its

difficulties: ‘You see, you can’t really have erm a lot of people living in one place without

sometimes there’s something that goes wrong. You know what I mean?’ Peggy

Well-being:

o socialising,

o pleasure,

o benefit,

o environment,

o safety.


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As Virginia said: ‘It has given me something to do. I didn’t feel so lonely. You feel isolated so

if there is nothing going on in the lounge you can do gardening. I feel that it has improved

my health. Learning things. I didn’t know how to do a basket before. I really enjoyed that

day (a day spent as a group planting baskets and tubs). We had a laugh and I can’t wait ‘til

the weather gets nice, I am looking forward to it’.

Decision-making:

o communication,

o gatekeeping,

o subversion.

Some of the older people had developed specific strategies for overcoming gatekeeping by

organisations, as illustrated by Fred:

‘I mean if they ask for permission the answer is always ‘No’. It’s out of hand ‘No!’ So you

don’t ask. You do it first, and when they come and say ‘You shouldn’t have done this’ - like

they did with me… *I say+ ‘Oh, well nobody told me’…I’ve lived under the Corporation for 40

years or more, so I mean I know the only way [is] to do it first and then let them ask

questions *later+’.

Discrimination:

o age,

o race.

One man talked about the discontinuation of a computer course he had been attending:

‘And she give us the bad news, that she has to stop now because her donation that she gets

is for going to the schools [to] get the parents and the non-workers, see? We were

pensioners…so they stopped it. And I was just getting in to the knack of it really. I would

have liked a letter stating that I’m so sorry… because I was just getting in to it…and learning

a few things.’ Dexter

Summary

Social isolation and loneliness problematic for older people and can have an impact on

health (Grenade & Boldy 2008; Help the Aged 2008). Working in partnership with

Manchester City Council and the older people of the area, the data illustrates the successes

and failures experienced by both the groups and individuals. There are a number of key

inter-related issues to do with empowerment, which is paramount in the development,

running and maintenance of activities by older people. Older people want to choose what

activities they engage in, rather than having these imposed on them (McFarquhar & Bowling

2009, Ogg 2009). A key to motivation is ownership of initiatives, this helps to build

confidence and pride in what is achieved (Biggs et al 2007, Larkin 2008). Whilst recognition


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of success is important, there needs to be open discussion when things go wrong and how

this can be avoided in future.

This can be achieved by providing a safe, supportive environment where people can make

suggestions and try out activities without fear of ridicule or censorship. Key to success is a

facilitator who can encourage participation and facilitate engagement, without dominating

the group and creating dependency. To facilitate sustainability and encourage older people

to continue to run activities when the facilitator leaves the field requires a jointly planned

exit strategy between facilitator and group; this includes the skills and knowledge required

to set up, run and manage an activity. As one older woman said: ‘I should think they’d need

some training’ (Miriam).


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c) MOSS SIDE

Activity Update

Moss Side Community Garden Group

Since March 2010 the group have been undertaking a number of different activities to keep

the garden plans moving forward. Several events have been organised and taken place

during the summer months. These include a very successful launch event which was held

on the 24th July, attended by local residents. During the launch, group members raised

money towards developing the garden, decided on the materials to be used to form

pathways through the site, compiled a list of new people who are keen to be involved in the

garden project, and cleared rubbish from hedges on the site.

Additionally, Anne Goldrick who is the chair of the group, was brave enough to take part in a

radio interview with Katherine Moores from Hulme Community Garden Centre regarding

the development of the garden site and to advertise the launch event. Anne has also

become involved in the organising committee for the Marketplace Event which was held at

the West Indian Sports and Social Club; she attends Valuing Older People meetings, and also

takes part in the local residents’ forums. The group had stalls at the Marketplace event and

the Valuing Older People over-50s event.

Since the launch event the group have recruited several new core group members, two of

whom are keen to take forward preparing the history of the garden. The group have

secured further funding through cash grants and MossCare Housing. Members have

created an artwork and naming competition which they have asked a number of local

younger people’s groups, schools and colleges to take part in. The group have also entered

Manchester’s ‘In bloom’ competition.

The group have started to work with the CSV who are supporting the project in differing

ways. Volunteers cleared the rubble and dug the borders around the site through a

‘summer service’ project and they are going to work with the group on producing the

artwork. Young people from Holy Name Primary school are also working with the group and

Katherine Moores to plant spring-flowering bulbs in the bottom part of the garden.


21

Women’s Support Group

The Somali women’s group continues to grow in numbers since March, and considerable

progress has been made in establishing the group as one that is open to people of all

generations. The older women continue to meet separately on Thursdays and have been

approached by a number of health agencies who wish talk to the group about a range of

health issues.

The group continue to apply for funding to sustain their activities, specifically for running

the lunch club and to rehearse and to put on a cultural Somali Show. The group have held a

few events during the course of the summer. This included a Somali Independence Day

event, an event linked to the election of a new president, and Eid. The sharing of

experiences and knowledge across generations remains the main focus of the group as well

as sharing dancing, singing and stories. The group had stalls at the Marketplace event and

the Valuing Older People over-50s events.

These events enabled the group to meet local stakeholders and people belonging to other

groups. They also provided the older women with the opportunity to socialise with other

older residents of Moss Side and Hulme. The group are now seeking a new venue that is

more appropriate to their needs, and that can accommodate the growing number of

women who are joining in the various activities supported by group members.


22

Research Discussion III

Working with Professionals

A particular partnership approach has been taken by the research team in Moss Side

throughout the different stages of locating, creating, engaging and disengaging with older

residents who were willing to take part in the research project. In this context, Burke and

Dalrymple (2009, p. 261) suggest that “partnerships refer to a formal agreement between

two or more individuals, groups or organisations to work together to achieve shared goals”.

In recent times there has been a drive by policy makers for partnerships to exist between

the voluntary, private and public sector, with some of this work aiming at re-invigorating

community activity (Wilkinson and Craig, 2002).

Lindamer et al. (2009) report on a project where researchers collaborated with public

professionals with the aim of developing and implementing sustainable practices in mental

health services. They reported on the challenging and time-consuming nature of the

collaboration, but argued that the process was critical to improving services and service

users’ lives. Kilbourne et al. (2007), Madon et al. (2007) and Fixsen et al. (2005) also report

on collaborations between researchers, stakeholders, end-users and policymakers and

report that such collaborations support the sustainability of new practices and create more

effective practices which are evidence-based. Despite the apparent advantages of

partnership work, there is a clear need for those engaged in such work to be aware of the

different systems within which researchers and public or private partners may work,

alongside their different values, styles, limitations, goals and pressures (Santos et al., 1994).

Consequently, a critical perspective is needed when working with individuals who have

different interests, expectations and work cultures to reduce the misunderstandings that

can potentially arise (Balloch and Taylor, 2001).

In Moss Side, the research team’s approach involved becoming familiar with the area,

community stakeholders, older people’s groups, older people’s services, and younger

people’s groups with the aim of establishing community projects with older residents that

made the most of existing local resources. In a culturally and socially diverse area such as

Moss Side, with a long tradition of community action and well-documented social problems,

the research team was not surprised to identify an incredibly broad array of potential

partners and stakeholders. A major part of our initial work in Moss Side revolved around

working with a range of community-based stakeholders, such as local councillors,

regeneration officers, council officers, service professionals, and ward coordinators. The

value of bringing together different stakeholders to work towards a shared goal was that

everyone brought with them different ideas, skills, and pools of resources to assist the

emerging older people’s groups to establish themselves, and to develop the skills and


23

capacities needed to sustain themselves in the future long after the research team had

withdrawn.

Our approach was integrated into the participatory action research method as we

developed and sought different types of support and partnerships at different stages in the

project’s development. The participatory action research cycle involves devising a plan,

undertaking action and reflecting on the process to devise the next plan and actions. Below

we provide a necessarily brief outline of the work which has been undertaken in Moss Side

over the course of the research project.

1. Initial work

Plan Our plan at this stage was to meet with as broad a range of professionals,

organisations, and groups of older people as possible in order to better understand what

services, amenities, groups, strategic focuses already existed within Moss Side. In addition,

we wanted to start gaining an insight into the issues that older people living in the area felt

were important, and to establish a sense of the other activities that older residents of Moss

Side were taking part in.

Action

We met with each of the Moss Side ward’s local councillors who offered us their

perspectives on the area and provided useful insights relating to the focus of

previous and current work in the area.

We met with council officers working in Moss Side (for example, ward coordination,

street environment, campaigns) to identify the nature of their roles, their own

perspectives on Moss Side, alongside current activities that exist and potential

groups/activities needed in the area for older people.

We met with housing association staff to find out what they did within the

community and to gain insights into the range of housing available to local older

people.

We met with local community-based professionals to find out about services

available to older residents of Moss Side. This encompassed such services as access

to welfare information, advice, and signposting. Additionally, we specifically set out

to gather information relating to the particular issues faced by the different

communities that reside in Moss Side.

Reflection Moss Side is a diverse community with substantial proportions of white, Black

Caribbean, and Somali residents. Over recent years the area as seen an increase in the


24

number and proportion of Somali residents living within the area. Our conversations with

both professionals and local residents suggested that such population change was

associated with a range of challenges for Moss Side. In particular, it was evident that there

were concerns relating to how to best serve and engage with the Somali community and

how to support them to develop appropriate services for themselves. There was also a pre-

existing focus on intergenerational work in Moss Side and this was encouraged by some of

the council staff. Discussions highlighted issues relating to environmental decay as being a

key concern within the community. For example, there had been an unsuccessful attempt to

establish a community garden. Officials pointed out potential locations in Moss Side for

environmental improvement, and for community garden development. The need for more

lunch clubs for older people in the area was also highlighted. While a number of services

existed for older people, many of these appeared to overlap and they often appeared to be

provided in a disjointed way.

2. Establishing groups for projects

Plan Having spent time becoming familiar with the area, we needed to focus on identifying

and starting to establish particular projects with different groups of older people based on

their ideas and interests.

Action

We went on a tour of Moss Side with the street environment manager looking at potential

sites for a garden project, and reflected on the relative merits of potential locations in

different areas of the ward.

We arranged and attended a meeting between young people and professionals to

secure their involvement in an intergenerational project.

We worked with a community organisation to arrange focus groups with local Somali

men and women to find out what their particular issues were and the types of

activities or projects that they would like to become involved in.

We drew on our contacts with professionals who worked for local housing

associations to arrange a coffee morning to talk to older residents and find out their

interests and ideas for a project.

We engaged a warden to obtain access to residents of a sheltered housing scheme.

We attended local residents’ association meetings where local stakeholders went to

talk to residents and to find out more about local issues.


25

Reflection Our conversations with a number of groups and individual older people

suggested the potential to draw together a group of people who might be interested in

developing an intergenerational garden project. Arising from the focus groups, it became

clear that the Somali women had some quite specific needs. They wanted somewhere to be

able to meet each week, and they expressed a desire to take part in different activities as

they didn’t have that opportunity currently. We were encouraged by the number of

professionals working in Moss Side who were keen to work with the research team, and had

offered to help in whatever way they could. Both the intergenerational garden project and

a project involving older Somali women were viewed favourably by local stakeholders and

we were able to draw on a lot initial support to develop the initiatives. This support needed

to balanced against the different agendas and obligations so that the older people’s groups

remained in control of the projects and everyone was able to work towards a common goal.

3. Working with groups

Plan Having reflected on our conversations with local residents and a range of community

stakeholders, and having considered a wide range of potential community projects we

opted to focus on a garden project and a lunch club/meeting for Somali women. To

succeed in this work we needed to work with the groups of older people in order to help

them to organise themselves, either formally and informally. To do this we would need to

facilitate meetings between the groups and local professionals who could offer a more

varied and knowledge support to the groups on grant applications, constitutions, places to

meet, and such like.

Action

We drew on some existing professionals such as the ward coordinators, campaigns

team, street environment team, and local councillors to help with funding and

different elements of work or needs for the garden.

We liaised with a local community garden trainer to work with the group and

develop their ideas, run sessions and project manage the development of the garden

site.

We facilitated meetings with the groups and a local community development worker

to help them initially apply for funding and prepare a constitution.

We negotiated between the groups and local stakeholders to keep the momentum

going and to get specific tasks completed and arrange meetings with the group and

solve and problems as they arose.


26

Reflection Each group had different levels of need when it came to get the groups up

and running. However, the support and access to local resources proved to be a valuable

asset for both groups. Being familiar with the range of local resources available was

especially helpful when the groups faced a particular question or dilemma. On many

occasions, we were aware of people or organisations who might be able to help the groups

find solutions to emerging issues. There was a great amount of support for the projects

from local stakeholders. An example of this is the support from a local councillor for the

Somali women to develop a cultural show. Similarly, a local councillor and the ward

coordinator liaised with a local building contractor to do some work on the garden site for

free and to develop the garden designs through an architects’ drawing. As the groups

developed, the different opinions and perspectives from the stakeholders, especially in the

case of the garden group came to light. Seemingly straightforward matters proved on

occasion problematic, such as issues relating to the provision of lighting and benches for the

gardens – deemed by some professionals as potential magnets for anti-social behaviour.

Resolving such issues required careful thought and open discussion with the relevant

stakeholders. The different timescales and work commitments also became evident here as

work divided out to individuals needed to be chased and arranging to meet with people

became difficult.

4. Sustaining groups

Plan Our plan in Moss Side was to support the groups in a manner that would ultimately

help them to become self-sustaining. Throughout the period of activity, the research team

sought to ensure that the groups maintained regular contact with local professionals and

organisations who could provide them with ongoing support and guidance on a local level.

Such relationships were felt to be essential to establish sustainable initiatives.

Action

We attended meetings and events to support the groups and sought to link the

groups to individuals and organisations that would be of use to them in the future.

We facilitated community participation by making links with local schools and youth

groups.

We liaised between local councillors and the groups to keep people informed of

what the group was doing.

We maintained contact with the groups and supported them as and when they

needed advise from the research team.


27

We linked both groups into the emerging Valuing Older People network in Hulme

and Moss Side.

Reflection Having a steering group which was made up of professionals meant that the

group already had access to support with funding, navigating council bureaucracy, backing

for events and the project. This steering group was enthusiastic about the project and

committed to seeing the project become a success. This was evidenced by the time and

contribution of the team for the garden launch event where many professionals came along

to help and others attended on the day. The local housing trusts were keen to support the

groups and have helped to fund the projects. It was crucial to make the links and get the

groups drawing on local resources early on as this enabled the groups’ ideas to be

developed much more successfully.

Conclusion

The initial stages of getting to know the area and individuals who live and work in the area

was time-consuming and challenging. However, as the project developed our time and

effort invested at the beginning paid dividends. As a result, when the groups were

establishing, developing and sustaining themselves we had access to a wide range of local

resources (organisations and professionals) that could be drawn on to help the groups. Such

help extended to creating a constitution, applying for funding, supporting and developing

ideas, finding suitable venues, and making links to other relevant professionals or

organisation.


28

d) NEWTON HEATH

Activity

The chair-based exercise class continues to meet with an instructor Wednesdays in the

Catholic Workingmen’s Club. There are usually 6-10 ladies present who greatly enjoy the

exercise. All members get on very well together. Members have shown great commitment

to participate in the class and have increasingly become independent in running the group:

Members now liaise and communicate directly with the Public Health Development Agency

and NHS who are funding the class. Attendance sheets have to be kept for each session and

sent to the funders at the end of the month. Likewise, monthly invoices have to be sent to

the NHS to receive monies which are paid into a bank account. The instructor is then paid

out of this by cheque. Members put together annual accounts for the first time this

summer.

The group struggles to maintain viable numbers for the class and various recruitment

activities have been employed to attempt to boost participation: word-of-mouth,

announcements, and posters displayed in various public buildings across Newton Heath.

Two new members have been recruited. Nonetheless the future funding of the group is a

little uncertain.

Members of the class met in late September to prepare for presenting their group activity at

the CALL-ME showcasing event at Gorton Monastery on 14th October. The meeting was

chaired by one member. The group made a decision to present a powerpoint presentation

based on a picture story of the group’s development with a possibility of a demonstration of

some of the exercises depending on available space.


29

Research Discussion IV

“You have to engage with your life, otherwise life will go away”-

Social engagement across the life course

Participants Seven interviews with 10 women of a white English and Irish background

aged between 68 and 89 years and living in North East Manchester have been carried out to

enquire into environmental, structural, personal and life course factors influencing social

engagement. In addition, two interviews with community volunteers were carried out, one

male and one female both aged in their seventies and have been included in this analysis.

These have been transcribed and are currently being analysed. Some preliminary results

have been summarised below.

What is social engagement? Social engagement is defined as “a small informal social

gathering”, with a “commitment to appear at a certain time and place”

(www.thefreedictionary.com). In addition social engagement usually involves a commitment

to an activity over a longer period of time. In this commitment it differs from informal social

interaction which occurs unplanned and haphazardly. Social engagement has been linked by

researchers and policy makers to enhanced well-being among older people and is generally

associated with ‘active ageing’ or ‘successful ageing’. Social engagement is in this analysis

considered in the context of social relationships in general. I consider social engagement as

part of our enactment of social relationships.

But some of the assumptions we make in relation to older people’s social engagement may

lead to services and opportunities for social engagement being offered in an inappropriate

manner. What are those assumptions?

1. We assume that older people have time and can give a long-term commitment to

a group or activity and to regular meetings.

2. We assume that older people are able and feel comfortable to contribute in a

group situation.

3. We assume that communities can provide welcoming and secure places to meet.

4. We assume that certain activities are appropriate to certain age groups.

5. We assume that any group of older people will find a common activity or shared

interest.

6. We assume that all older people should want to socialise because it is ‘good’ for

them.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/


30

Some of these assumptions are here investigated in relation to participants’ statements.

The question is… In this analysis I investigate forms and patterns of social engagement

developed by participants over the life course and ask to what extent service providers

respond adequately to the skills and resources that older people bring to their social

activities.

The theoretical framework used to analyse the interviews draws on the life course approach

to environmental gerontology (Rowles and Watkins 2003). This approach emphasises the

importance of the development of skills and resources throughout the life course in

enabling individuals to cope with challenges in later life. Some examples from this research

project are given below. (Please note: all names have been changed.)

The life course Speaking about their lives the women described how during the years

when they started a family they had no wish, opportunity, time or money to socialise.

Friederike: Did you used to be involved in any activities when you were younger?

Donna: No, not really….Well, I was married very young, so I always had children.

Pauline: There wasn’t a great deal of social activities going about then, was there?

You know what I mean, ‘cos you still had picture houses that you could go

to. But like I said…if you didn’t have any money …to spend on that, our

activities, we had no money. …Not as bad as you had no money for food,

that sounds like real poverty, but what money you had was saved

nuggets….You see, the kids had activities but they didn’t cater for adult

activities….

Frieda: It was just looking after your children. You hadn’t much time to be socialising.

You didn’t want to be anyway when you first got married.

Elisabeth: And then when *the children+ got quite a bit older…I used to go to the club

for a couple of hours. …I really enjoy going to clubs.

Some of the women had been involved in social activities over a number of years,

particularly since the children had grown up or since their retirement from paid

employment. Their engagement with those groups was often intermittent for various

reasons, either because of continued family responsibilities or because the group activity

collapsed for lack of funding, lack of participants or other changes.


31

Pauline: Yeah, but like, I’ve always belonged to the history *group+ for donkey’s

years…It was *in the+ library first on Monday nights, and I used to be able to

finish work and go there then, and then it was in the morning at you know,

you know the lighthouse here …It was there, then that stopped. It went in

the afternoons, which I had to give up because [I was] picking up my [grand]

children…And then that stopped, *so I said+: right I’m going back to the

history [group] now.

Social relationships As mentioned above I consider social engagement as part of enacting

social relationships more generally. I am therefore interested in how patterns of social

relationships develop over the life course and influence social engagement in later life. The

following examples from the interviews illustrate this.

As has already become apparent in some of the quotes above is the importance of the

women’s social roles and circumstances in shaping their opportunities for social interaction

in their earlier lives. Their roles as mothers and housewives shaped the way in which social

relationships were developed around childcare and household tasks within a

neighbourhood.

Elisabeth: Well you used to come to my house didn’t you?

Frieda: With all my 4 children.

Elisabeth: You used to come to our house once a week and your children used to

come didn’t they.

Frieda: Then we used to go to Eden Park, I mean that’s near me, it’s just at the

bottom of the avenue, mostly parks that we used to do.

…

Pauline: [We had] the house, a big field, then there was a big canal, then there was

another big field and then there was Oldham Road. Now the neighbours

that I had, they all had kids. …The kids could play out because it was a cul-

de-sac, but one of [the mothers] would sit, sit down for an hour and

watching the kids. That’s when you got on with your housework. Then it

was your turn to go out and watch them.

Social relationships were also based on meeting others informally in the street. As women

used to walk everywhere this provided ample opportunity for a chat or exchange which

supported and renewed social relationships based on casual encounters.


32

Frieda: I think years ago people was more friendly, wasn’t they? I mean in the

streets everybody knew everybody else and…Well they’d stop and talk to

you….In those days, I mean you were stood talking on corners for an evening

wouldn’t you and things like that.

It was those casual encounters which built ‘friendly’ communities where people felt

comfortable and safe. Where those relationships have continued to be part of an older

person’s life they are a resource and provide opportunities for social engagement in later

life. ‘Clubs’ (i.e. workingmen’s clubs and pubs) were an extension of these informal social

encounters as they provided a space for people to meet and share in a chat and relax with

some entertainment provided for their enjoyment.

Nancy: There was a club, it was called the Broadville Club, and me and Jenny used to

go there on a Monday night… There was entertainment, you know, all big

stars. I got dressed to go but, we used to get tickets, complimentary tickets,

you know, to go in, and you’d go off in your long dress. Anyhow we could go

and we knew [everybody].

What characterises these opportunities for socialising is that they do not require any long-

term commitment. They can therefore not be considered ‘social engagement’ as defined

above. Although some women like Nancy and Jenny used to go out every week there was no

expectation from others that they had to be there. It is also important to note that clubs and

pubs provide entertainment which means that customers are involved in an organised

activity without carrying any responsibility for the continued existence of the organisation.

On the other hand where individuals had opportunities to develop their experience of being

part of or leading organised group activities this also gave them the confidence to get

involved in new activities or groups in later life. It is also important to note that even when

people have moved away from their communities they will maintain links in these

communities. Social relationships may then encourage engagement in later life even when

this involves overcoming distances and crossing boundaries laid down by councils and other

agencies.

John: I used to run the squash and the swimming clubs for Ferantes…It was only

when we decided what we were going to do when we retired ‘cos Tessa was

into family history at that time and we decided, well, we’ll do family history.

And we were still tied up in [the neighbourhood we grew up in], a lot of our

friends are still down there, and ex-neighbours.

Two long-term friends have joined an activity and reflect on their motivations:


33

Frieda: And you talked me into joining.

Elisabeth: Yes.

Frieda: I wasn’t going to *join+. Truthfully. It’s not my cup of tea really.

Elisabeth: No, I’m not really into much exercise.

Frieda: I don’t mind doing it but I wouldn’t have joined only she [Laughs] kept

mithering me!

Elisabeth: I mean well!

Like Frieda many older people will become socially engaged at the instigation of friends or

relatives. Nonetheless enjoyment of the activity is vital in maintaining commitment and

interest.

Current opportunities for and barriers to social engagement

In this section I present other factors which influence social engagement in later life. These

factors relate to the current opportunities and barriers in communities which either

promote or discourage older people’s social engagement.

Community based activities may be run by volunteers and depend on the commitment of a

small number of individuals for their organisation. The individual’s motivation is often borne

out of a personal interest or hobby. Their engagement is appreciated by others in the group.

Elisabeth: It’s a lovely club and these new people now that have taken over *the

committee+, they’re lovely! They can’t do enough for you…. They’re

really nice people. They don’t get paid for it. It’s really good of them

to do it. They’ve got to be good people to put themselves out for

other people.

Its organisational independence gives the group a large amount of freedom to engage with

its members and potential audiences and to be creative in their activities.

Julia: There is something in a [voluntary] organisation like that which leaves

spaces for things to happen. And leaves…it’s not so tightly controlled

that everything has to go in a set of steps or programmes. It’s about

how you respond [to external events].

Many participants commented that they had never had so many opportunities to be active

before in their lives.


34

Elisabeth: I think if older people want [activities] they can find them.

But personality plays a role in whether individuals will become socially engaged and

personal interests will influence the activity they may become engaged with.

Frieda: I’m pretty quiet, you know what I mean. I’m not like a chatty person. I’ve got

to get to know people before I speak to them.

Activities which are run by volunteers often rely on outside financial support. But unless

participants have had experience in managing money and writing funding applications the

process of applying for even small amounts of money can seem impossibly daunting.

John: As a group we decided to apply for some funds because when you listen to

these *community workers+ there’s always money there…but to apply for

that…you don’t know how to go about it. And I’ve been on a course to sit

down and fill in *the forms+…But when you start filling forms in you think it’s

not worth the hassle…so *we+ have given up.

Small community groups may feel that they need to align themselves with more influential

or ‘powerful’ representatives of the community in order to get funding or to get things

done. These collaborations can be very effective, but they can also be exploitative, leaving

group members unable to influence their own activity.

John: The councillors don’t work together. …We invited them to *our group+ but they

wouldn’t attend. And then when we got the *community project+ going… the

MP got involved, it was then that the councillor jumped on board for the

glory… He took it over. *He felt the project+ wasn’t moving fast *enough+. He’d

promised someone that he was going to have [the project] ready for the 11th

of November and he ended up building it himself, … he had a building firm, he

put it up and then he took control of the *opening ceremony+. …Anyway he

took that over as well. … In fact when he put the piece in the paper, the

Councillor, he didn’t even give *the community group+ a mention.

The councillor had exploited an opportunity for some positive publicity for himself but in the

process created resentment and disillusionment among the group members who had

initiated the project. The injustice was felt by the whole group but they did not challenge

the councillor. Instead of using this project to further participants’ skills and knowledge in

developing a project at their own pace, the councillor essentially used the group’s initiative

but then disempowered the group from any further engagement.

One participant voiced her concern regarding the potentially patronising attitude by service

providers towards older people. Often they continue to be regarded as ‘needy’.


35

Julia: I think we have to get out of the model of engaging with older people as if we

are to give them answers, you know. Older active people are not looking for

answers. I don’t think we are always looking for people to tell us what’s

available by the Council or what they can do. We are actually also looking for

how external organisations can facilitate us doing what we want.

Community relations

In spite of the commitment of some members community groups may have difficulty in

recruiting sufficient numbers or get others interested in its activities.

John: You can’t get people out to *activities+. It’s sad really… You don’t get many

people there. I don’t know why, it seems that either a) it’s difficult to get out

or b) they’re just not interested.

Even trying to talk to people personally to get them involved can backfire when it is being

interpreted as nosey interference as John recounts:

I said: ‘Can’t the community wardens go and knock on doors?’, but …then Jean, the

lady that was doing it…, she said then the old folks thought you were spying

on them.

What has changed in communities since participants were younger relates to the close-knit

intimacy or connections that people had. These do no longer exist in many neighbourhoods.

Frieda: Well, you know young ones, you’re not on the same wave length are you? I

mean they’ll talk to you but more or less just for the sake of it, if you know

what I mean.

The informal supportive relationships that women had in earlier times may no longer exist

in the close neighbourhood leaving the older person feeling mistrustful, angry and

vulnerable:

Jenny: *I said to my friends: I have + a good house and look, I’ve got a nice garden

and I love it and I have brilliant neighbours. So this was in 1974. [Now] the

older ones have died off, then they’re movin’ rubbish in from all over the show

that doesn’t clean, they don’t pay rent. And like I said: I’ve got nobody, I

haven’t got anybody that I could turn to in an emergency, I mean I’ve got me

husband but if anything happened to him or me, to him, you know what I

mean, I don’t know who we’d turn to in an emergency.


36

Conclusion

Among the participants of this study the women in particular had been used to engaging in

informal social relationships. Few of them had had opportunities to acquire skills,

knowledge and experience in being part of a committed group. This was due to their social

role, but also to the lack of opportunity for social activities earlier in their lives and their lack

of financial resources whilst bringing up children. Personality and disposition also play a role

in whether an individual will seek out social engagement opportunities.

Opportunities for social engagement may be provided but the continued enjoyment of the

activity as well as of positive social relationships are vital in maintaining interest. Barriers to

social engagement have to be sought in the changing social relations within and between

communities. In addition institutional practices and even local politics can influence older

people’s engagement.

Participants’ motivations for social engagement were primarily to derive pleasure and

enjoyment from it. In later life when work and family responsibilities are no longer the

primary activity people become to an extent free to choose a) whether and to what degree

they what to be engaged, and b) the activity which gives them most pleasure and

satisfaction. Catering for such a diverse and “fickle” audience is not an easy task for those

whose job it is to provide activities for older people. Evidence from this research suggests

that facilitating older people in their own chosen activity may be more successful in

promoting social engagement among older people.


37

III. Update on survey analysis and results

An aim of the CALL-ME study is to promote the social engagement and quality of life of

older people living in disadvantaged communities. To explore the extent to which the

project is achieving this aim, a questionnaire has been developed for completion by the

individuals who are participating in the range of activities that the project has initiated.

Exploring the impact of the project on the social engagement of older people: the role of

quantitative methods

The data captured by the questionnaire cover the demographic characteristics of

respondents (age, sex, marital status, living circumstances) and, through the use of validated

research instruments, their: access to social support networks ( based upon their level of

contact with children, friends, neighbours); desire and ability to participate in social

activities; levels of loneliness (based upon their access to close friends and confidents) ;

health related quality of life (based upon them experiencing problems with mobility, self

care, usual activities, pain/ discomfort, anxiety/ depression). To date, the feedback obtained

in 55 questionnaires has been analysed.

Individuals completing the questionnaire were aged between 55 and 88 years (mean age

69.7 years) with 74.5% being women and 69.8% living alone. Although all those responding

indicated that they had either high (32.5%) or medium (67.5%) levels of access to social

support networks, 43.1% thought they were unable to participate in social activities as much

as they would like whilst a high proportion suffered from moderate (50.0%) or severe

(12.5%) feelings on loneliness.

On average, the health related quality of life of those completing the questionnaires was

lower than the UK average for a population of similar age. In the instrument used in the

questionnaire, 1.00 is the maximum rating that a person can give themselves in terms of

their perceived health related quality of life. Whilst some individuals did give themselves a

quality of life score of 1.00, the mean score across all respondents was only 0.63 (the UK

mean is 0.78).


38

Comments

These preliminary findings indicate that the CALL-ME study is successfully reaching

individuals who are experiencing challenges in terms of their levels of social engagement

and quality of life. On-going work will assess whether these findings are confirmed as the

number of individuals completing the questionnaire increases. Findings will also be

compared with those obtained by similar research studies undertaken elsewhere.

However, although the questionnaire survey is generating important information to

demonstrate the value of the project, the difficulties of using survey techniques within a

participatory action research design cannot be ignored. Some individuals have problems in

completing the questionnaires (although the research team have offered help as required)

whilst others may not see the relevance of the questionnaires. For these reasons

completion rates have been lower than desired. In addition, it has not been possible (so far)

to encourage individuals to complete the questionnaire more than once as a means of

assessing how, for example, how their levels of social engagement change as a result of

their participation in the CALL-ME project. Such issues will be explored by the qualitative

aspects of the study, thus demonstrating the complementary value of quantitative and

qualitative techniques within an interdisciplinary research project.


39

IV. Stakeholder involvement

An important part of the design of the project is regular discussion with a range of

stakeholders about the learnings from the field. We have addressed this issue in two

ways:

a) individual interviews with a range of stakeholders about how they see the

opportunities and challenges working with older people in community settings;

b) meetings with representatives of stakeholder agencies to provide an opportunity

for them to share with us their perspectives on the CALL-ME project.

Details of both of these is given below.

Talking with Community Agency workers

The themes outlined below have arisen out of the thematic analysis of interviews with 3

professionals. To data a total of 11 interviews have been carried out and will be analysed in

due course. The following therefore has to be regarded as a ‘work-in-progress’:

1. Having the ‘right’ personality

- taking individual responsibility for action/ making things happen/ initiative

- people-oriented

- listening to others

- being able to influence other (doing the “big sell”)

- being able to prioritize activities

- being creative/ doing things differently

- dealing/ coping with conflict/ negotiation of relationships

- confidence

2. Attitude & motivation are important for doing a good job

- giving 100% to the job/ passion

- doing more than the basics/ hard work

- showing/ communicating empathy and respect

- reaching out to others

- learning from others to enhance own skills/ practice

- wanting to help people/ making things better (e.g. delivering a better service)


40

- ‘give a little of yourself’

- Emotional involvement vs professionalism- a precarious balance

- Respect difference

3. The structural, historical and organisational context

- engagement is on the political agenda (e.g. in regeneration)- done solely for the sake

of fulfilling funding criteria?

- Dealing with the history of engagement (communities may have prior –negative or

positive- experiences of engaging with statutory agencies)

- Communities change over time

- Communities vary greatly in their make-up and consequently in their ‘issues’/ needs

- Managerial understanding and support for engagement and its benefits are lacking

- Ensuring accountability versus creative freedom

- Develop qualitative planning and evaluation practices to prove value of engagement

to management

- Setting aspirational but realistic targets

- Working in a like-minded team

- Local facilities and spaces for fostering engagement need to be: free, available to

everyone, accessible, local, welcoming, independent, convenient

4. Learning, training and development

- ‘on the job’ training- skills, knowledge and experience developed over time

- Learning from others’ experiences/ through networking

- Develop local area knowledge

- Getting a feel for a place/ neighbourhood/ community

- Develop strong and personal links, relationships and trust with local people

- The ‘bigger picture’ of engagement practice (i.e. city-wide and nationally)

- Reflecting on mistakes

- Who else is working out there…? Making connections with other organisations to

benefit own practice and communities

- Lack of formal qualifications

- Taking responsibility for own professional development

- Personal and professional learning are closely linked

5. The role of the professional

- ‘hands-on’ involvement with people

- fingers ‘in so many pies’ (=job variety)

- bridging a gap between communities and other professionals/ liaison


41

- changing negative attitudes of some professionals towards members of the

community

- balance obligations and expectations of the organisation, its management and

communities

- issues of representation (who are you working for/ whose side are you on?)

- finding solutions for communities

- talking to people: gather and distribute information

- understanding and ‘meeting needs’ of individuals and communities

- ‘selling an idea’

- group support: capacity building & advice, create group identity, define aims and

objectives, provide training opportunities (“people do better with our support”)

- provide continuity of relationships and support

- facilitate positive changes: give people control and independence, but support if

they need it (flexibility)

- communication through media, e.g. websites, newsletters

- ability to differentiate between individuals through listening: people have different

needs

- provide opportunities for further engagement

- ‘service delivery’


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Report on Stakeholder meeting held on 15th May 2010

“Activities can become infectious – success breeds success”

The Call-Me team met for the second time with a group of stakeholders in Manchester to

discuss the research project’s outcomes and their applicability for professionals providing

services for or working with older people across Manchester. Participants of the meeting

are listed below. The meeting took place at historic Gorton Monastery and aimed to provide

an opportunity to exchange thoughts on issues around community engagement with older

people for instance professional practice and sustainability, as well as professionals’ training

and resource requirements. These are discussed in turn below.

1. Professional practice:

a) Engagement with diverse populations needs an awareness and understanding of

cultural difference. More effort needs to be made to engage with older people from

ethnic minority groups.

b) A bottom-up facilitative approach to engagement with older people is preferable to

a top-down (“we know what’s best for you”) approach.

c) Engaging with men in community work is proving challenging. Women tend to

respond better to opportunities provided for social engagement. One exception is

activities around gardening which seem to attract men as well.

d) How can we move from small-scale projects to engaging larger numbers of the

community? Small groups tend to work well for a time but are often not sustainable.

e) There is a need for continuous evaluation of project and activities. This evaluation

can involve participants. Assessments regarding the impact of the activity on the

individual and on the community should be documented to provide reflective

learnings and evidence for future activities. The assessment needs to be made in

terms of process as well as outcome evaluations. The evaluation needs to include

evidence of skills, knowledge and social networks developed by participants, not just

number of participants attending activities.

f) Promoting opportunities for personal and social development are important aspects

of social engagement and will make the groups more sustainable. By networking

with other groups individuals and groups can learn from each other. Other training

opportunities need to be provided to improve individuals’ confidence and skills.

g) Facilitation of community groups by professionals is time consuming. This is often

not appreciated by managers. There is already evidence that funding cuts are

affecting community workers ability to nurture and support groups for older people


43

2. Professional training and resources:

a) Opportunities to exchange experiences with other community professionals would

be helpful in learning about best practice examples.

b) Up-to-date information on available funding for community groups can be passed

on.

c) Training on how to evaluate community engagement to provide evidence to

managers for further funding.

d) Learning how to manage expectations by community groups and individuals.

e) Clarify different agendas/ expectations of stakeholders working with older people,

for example professionals working in regeneration, Adult Social Care, housing

provision, health professions, libraries, and City Council.

f) Professionals need opportunities and time to reflect on their own practice in order

to be more effective. Project targets do not provide opportunities to reflect on the

processes involved in community engagement.

g) Funding cuts will be the main challenge for providing opportunities for social

engagement for older people in the foreseeable future.

Attendees:

Michael Murray, Roger Beech, Friederike Ziegler, Amanda Crummett, Jan Bailey, CALL-ME

Project, Keele University;

Paul McGarry, Sally Chandler, Tracey Annette, Jane Morris, VOP, Manchester City Council;

Dave Thorley, VOP, New East Manchester;

Christine Popoola, Heathfield Centre;

Liz Woods, Adult Social Care;

Kath Constable, South Manchester Regeneration Team;

Tracey Swann , New East Manchester;

Jim Harding, Dr Savita Katbamna, Older People’s Reference group; NDA;

Richard Wright, Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust;

Nick Carr-Brown, Healthy Ardwick;

Sara Wolfe, North Manchester Regeneration Team;

David Andrassy, Andrassy Design;


44

Mike Williams, Adult Social Care;

Sharon Lewis, Guinness Northern Counties;

Maxine Goulding, Libraries & Information Services

Comments

It was apparent during this event that many of the community stakeholders were interested

in the project but would welcome more detail on what we have learned from our work and

also on how they could enhance their skills to work in communities with older residents. It

is the intention of the research team to explore with the MCC Valuing Older People Team

the opportunity to take action to address these issues. In a particular, it is planned to

convene a meeting with some of the stakeholders to develop a learning plan for community

workers.


45

V. Policy Implications

The learnings from the CALL-ME Project are designed to inform discussion about policy

designed to promote social interaction and enhanced social opportunities for older

residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods. As part of this discussion paper the project

team have circulated a discussion paper. It is intended to use this as the basis for further

discussion.

In addition, members of the team have been involved in the planning of a public forum

organised by Manchester City Council on Facing the Future: Creating the Age-Friendly City.

Full details are provided in Appendix 3.

Policy Issues- Discussion Paper 1

This discussion paper introduces some policy issues that have evolved from the CALL-ME

project which has been working with older residents of several neighbourhoods in

Manchester since 2008. It is intended as an initial paper to promote further discussion. The

CALL-ME project, funded by the national New Dynamics of Ageing (NDA) initiative, had

certain specific aims and planned outputs. These were:

Project aims

1) Clarify the issues older people resident in disadvantaged communities

themselves identify as important regarding social engagement and

independence;

2) Describe the impact of different community initiatives on active ageing;

3) Identify the particular social and psychological processes involved in promoting

active ageing through such community initiatives; and

4) Develop policy recommendations for promoting active ageing in disadvantaged

communities.

Planned ‘User’ outputs:

The research programme is designed to promote the development and sustainability of

community interventions with diverse groups of older people. From the outset the

community residents and partners will be involved in discussion about future

opportunities and potential research outputs. It is planned to convene forums in each


46

of the communities to discuss the findings and to consider plans for extending the

projects.

In terms of policy, the team will work closely with a range of partners in Manchester

City Council, and elsewhere, to encourage the design of policies and practices that can

improve the quality of older people’s lives. A wider audience of policy makers will be

targeted through organising workshops. From these it is planned to develop a series of

detailed policy guidelines.

Policy discussion points

1. Many older people in disadvantaged neighbourhoods report limited social contact

and express a desire for more opportunities for social interaction. There is a need for

a range of facilities in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in which older people can

engage in various social activities.

Identify and develop facilities in disadvantaged neighbourhoods that are

accessible to older residents, e.g. community rooms, health centres, libraries,

etc.

Negotiate with developers on the importance of shared social facilities.

2. Community-based group activities such as those concerned with arts & culture,

gardening, exercise and computing are very attractive opportunities for social

interaction for older people.

Provide opportunities for arts, gardening and other group activities.

Develop resources in arts, gardening and other group activities targeted at older

people.

3. There are certain groups of older that report more social isolation, e.g., people from

ethnic minority groups and men, but who are reluctant to participate in some group

activities.

Identify and target those sub-groups of older people who are most isolated.

Develop varied activities most suited to different groups.

4. Opportunities for personal and social development for older people are important

aspects of social engagement and help groups become more sustainable.

Provide training opportunities for older people in developing and supporting

local initiatives.


47

Provide specific opportunities for training in financial management and group

skills.

5. Older people are often anxious about new social interaction, especially outside their

community and age group.

Identify ways of linking older residents across communities and across

generations

Provide opportunities for shared events.

6. Facilitators are needed to work with older residents to promote greater social

opportunities in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Identify and train facilitators to work with older residents in a collaborative

manner.

Provide support and resources for facilitators.

7. Community professionals need opportunities and time to reflect on their own

practice in working with older residents

Provide opportunities for community professionals to reflect upon their practice

Provide opportunities for community professionals to exchange experiences with

others about best practice examples.

8. Funding is needed to support local social initiatives for older residents of

disadvantaged neighbourhoods

Identify range of funding sources for community projects

Provide up-to-date information on available funding for community groups.

9. Shortage of resources is affecting community workers’ ability to nurture and support

social activities for older people.

Draw attention to the impact of shortages in funding.

Train residents and facilitators on how to evaluate community engagement to

provide evidence to managers for further funding.

10. There are different agendas and expectations of stakeholders working with older

people, for example professionals working in regeneration, Adult Social Care,

housing provision, health professions, libraries, and City Council.

Provide opportunities to discuss these different agendas.

Involve older people in discussions with different professionals


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VI. Dissemination Activities

An essential part f the project is an extensive dissemination and impact strategy. Details

of our plan are given in Appendix 4. In addition, some recent examples of dissemination

are given below.

Popular dissemination

Newsletters: Two newsletters were produced and circulated to project participants

and other interested parties

Events: A number of community events were organised in the different

neighbourhoods. These are described in the project reports

Website: An outside consultant has been hired to assist with the development

of an extensive website

Stakeholders: A meeting was held with interested stakeholders.

Popular press The project has attracted media attention and there have been a

series of reports in the popular press. Examples are provided in

Appendix 2.

Research dissemination

Publications

Murray, M., & Crummett, A. (2010). ‘I don’t think they knew we could do these sorts of

things’: Social representations of community and participation in

community arts by older people. Journal of Health Psychology, 15,

777-785.


49

Conference presentations

Bailey, J. What is Quality of Life: a case study with older Chinese People living in

Northern England; ERA Conference, Bristol, April 2010.

Bailey, J. Encouraging Older People to Participate in & Take Ownership of

Community Activities: Barriers & Enablers; British Society of Gerontology, Annual

Conference, Brunel University, London, July 2010.

Beech, R, Murray, M, Maslin-Prothero, S, Scharf, T, Ziegler, F, Bailey, J, Crummett,

C, Middling, C. Evaluating an action research project for promoting social

engagement among older people: the role of quantitative methods British Society of

Gerontology, Annual Conference, London, 6-8 July 2010..

Maslin-Prothero, S., & Bailey, J. Encouraging older people to participate in and take

ownership of community activities: barriers and enablers. British Society of

Gerontology, Annual Conference, London, 6-8 July 2010.

Maslin-Prothero, S., & Bailey, J. Social Inclusion and Older People: a case study.

10th Global Conference on Ageing, Melbourne, Australia, 3-6 May 2010.

Murray, M., & Crummett, A. Community arts, community well-being and community

action: A case study of the 'Young at Heart' group; Third International Conference on

Community Psychology, Puebla, Mexico, June 2010.

Scharf, TS, Ziegler, F, Beech, R, Maslin-Prothero, S, Murray, M, Bailey, J, Crummett,

A, Middling, A . Community-based participatory action research: opportunities and

challenges for critical gerontology British Society of Gerontology, Annual

Conference, London, 6-8 July, 2010.

Scharf, TS, Ziegler, F, Beech, R, Maslin-Prothero, S, Murray, M, Bailey, J, Crummett,

A, Middling, A. From exclusion to inclusion? Critical reflections on participatory

action research with older people. Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans,

2010.

Ziegler, F. Exploring Intersections for understanding social engagement in later

life; RGS-IBG, London, September 2010.


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Research seminars

Michael Murray Participatory Action Research with Older People, Sheffield Hallam

University, April 2010.

Sian Maslin-Prothero The benefits of social interaction for older people; School of Nursing

and Midwifery, Keele University, June 2010.

Sian Maslin Prothero Social engagement in disadvantaged communities; Centre for Social

gerontology, Keele University, June 2010.

Research workshops

Michael Murray Community based participatory health research; Social Sciences

Research Centre, Berlin, Germany, June 2010.

Michael Murray Approaches to action research in gerontology - theory & methods;

Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, University of Medicine, Berlin,

Germany, June 2010.


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Planned dissemination

The research team members are currently engaged in a variety of activities in expand the

dissemination and impact of our work. This includes:

Popular dissemination:

The development of an extended website containing information on the project but

also advice on how comparable projects can be developed;

A popular report on the activities in each of the neighbourhoods for the participants

is planned.

Policy documents:

The team will be working with members of the VOP team to develop more detailed

policy recommendations. It is hoped that a publication or publications will result

from these discussions.

Research papers:

The team are planning a series of research papers. These papers will build upon the

research commentary in this report. Below are some tentative titles of research

papers that team members are currently working on. At least two people from the

research team are working on each publication.

Beech, R., & Murray, M. Participation in community projects with older people.

Maslin-Prothero, S., & Bailey, J. Gatekeeping in community projects. Health & Social

care in the Community.

Maslin-Prothero, S., & Bailey, J. Degrees of success in working with community

groups. Health & Social care in the Community.

Maslin-Prothero, S., Bailey, J., Scharf, T.S., & Middling, S. Gardening and social

engagement. Health & Social care in the Community.

Murray, M., & Crummett, A. Older people’s visual representations of community.

Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology.

Murray, M., & Crummett, A. Keeping going with community arts. Arts & Health.


52

Scharf, T.S., & Middling, S. Neighbourhood-based approach to low-level support for

older residents of a disadvantaged urban community. Practice OR Health & Social

Care in the Community

Scharf, T.S., & Middling, S. Working across boundaries to support community

projects for older people. Health & Social Care in the Community OR Working with

Older People.

Ziegler, F., & Beech, R. Social engagement.

Ziegler, F., & Murray, M. Community professionals views of community work with

older people.


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Appendix 1: PhD students

Two PhD students are attached to the study. Besides being involved in the project in one

of the neighbourhoods they are also working on their PhD thesis. Brief details of their

theses are given below.

Jan Bailey

What is quality of life? A case study with older Chinese people living in northern England.

Supervisors: Professor Sian Maslin-Prothero and Dr. Roger Beech.

Abstract: This study explores what factors older Chinese people feel are important in

them having a good quality of life and why. The participants are Chinese migrants, living in

the UK, who are aged 50+. A qualitative approach, using constructivist grounded theory

methodology, has been taken with data collection and analysis proceeding in parallel. Data

will be collected via interviews with the assistance of an interpreter where necessary. The

interviews will progress from being open to focusing on emergent categories and will

continue until no new data emerges and categories reach saturation. The resulting

categories will be compared to the domains of existing quality of life instruments and

knowledge about older people’s quality of life.

Sharon Middling

Personalising the care and support of older people: A qualitative study in a disadvantaged

community in Manchester

Supervisors – Dr. Pat Chamber and Dr. Mo Ray

Abstract: In light of the recent changes in the delivery of adult social care services with

the government focus clearly on the agenda of ‘personalisation’, together with the push

towards service user participation in developing such services, it seems as though there is

both potential and opportunity for positive changes to be made to the practice of social

work and the ways in which older people receive social care and support. This research

plans to focus on providing older people who live in a disadvantaged community in

Manchester, with the opportunity to express their views and experiences of the adult social

care they receive, whether it is homecare, direct payments or individual budgets.


54

Appendix 2: Publicity

The following details some of the press publicity that the project has attracted. The

project has also been described in other publications including the last Novas Scarman

Newsletter, November/December 2009.


55

EAST

– an on-line newspaper about East Manchester

http://www.thisiseast.com/category/art-sport-and-leisure/

Young at Art

Street signs, silhouettes of tower blocks, ornate church windows, paving stones, railings and

even pub signs have all inspired a West Gorton art group to produce striking silk screen

prints depicting their local area.

Field Worker Amanda Crummett, centre, with the Young at Heart Group and their art mentors

The Young at Heart Group – set up more than two years ago and ‘adopted’ by Keele University’s CALL-ME research programme – flung open the doors of their community rooms on Gortonvilla Walk this week to show off their creativity.

Matty Wade: "It's my design on the T-shirt!"

http://www.thisiseast.com/category/art-sport-and-leisure/

http://www.thisiseast.com/2010/07/07/young-at-art/


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Each member displayed a finished print mounted and framed on the walls with other limited editions on sale to raise funds for future projects.

The silk screening techniques were taught by artist Ian McKay and his son Andrew as part of the M12-11 arts project, set up in 2005 of offer creative opportunities to east Manchester groups and residents.

“I’ve enjoyed every part of this project,” says Matty Wade, who accompanies his partially-sighted grandmother to the group and whose design features on the group’s T-shirts. “We all took a vote on which image should go on the shirts and the group chose mine. That made me very happy.”

Eighty-five year-old Maggie Wade was, at first, reluctant to join in the group’s activities: “When they came to ask me if I’d like to join I told them I could only see light and shape and I’d never to able to manage. We started with pottery and I thought I’d never to able to do it but, with the help of these people, I’ve managed. I felt as if I was past it at my age, so it just goes to show.

“They’re starting keep fit classes on Wednesday so I’ll come down to that too!”

“Some older people hardly go out at all,” says club secretary, Audrey Hurley. “So this group has given them a chance to have a cuppa and a chat as well as make some fantastic art. We all enjoy the laughs when we get together.”

“CALL-ME is part of a longer research project aimed at improving the quality of life for older people,” explains Keele University’s Professor Michael Murray. “With our partners, we’re providing opportunities for older people in disadvantaged areas of Manchester to socialise. Here the Young at Heart group have produced some amazing artwork but mainly it’s been about people coming together.”

“Our field worker, Amanda Crummett, has been able to support the group to apply for funding, recruit a community artist and develop this project. We’re really pleased with the results.”


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Manchester Evening News

July 16, 2010

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/

Painting a picture of Shameless estate

Plans to pull down the West Gorton estate and replace it with 171 new homes were approved by Manchester council last December.

People who live on the housing estate made famous by TV show Shameless are preserving it in art before it is demolished.

Plans to pull down the West Gorton estate and replace it with 171 new homes were approved by Manchester council last December.

To remember their estate, a group of 10 residents have created a series of silk screen prints depicting the street signs, shops and houses where they live. Audrey Hurley, 66, who took part in the project and has lived on the estate for 36 years, has mixed emotions about leaving the place where her family grew up.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/

http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/980.$plit/C_71_article_1302017_image_list_image_list_item_0_image.jpg?16%2F07%2F2010%2014%3A18%3A02%3A551


58

She said: “At first I was very upset – I didn’t want to leave my house after all these years. But now I’ve been shown designs for the new houses I’m quite happy about it. “I remember places like the working men’s club. Years ago there were concerts every Saturday and Sunday night and you had to queue to get in. Now there’s only one or two go there. “Then there’s the two big tower blocks. They’re like a barrier between two halves of the estate. I’ll miss the row of shops on my street where people meet up for a chat.” Audrey chose a photo of the meeting hall, formerly the Aces pub, for the project. The silk screening techniques were taught by artist Ian McKay. He said the idea had been to produce ‘a visual documentation of the estate which makes for a wonderful story’. He added: “We looked at different buildings like the climbing centre and the Fujitsu building as well as street signs and little bits of architecture. Everyone loved it. They really embraced and enjoyed it.”

An exhibition of their work at the West Gorton community centre earlier this month was extremely successful with many of the group selling copies of their prints. Suzanne Price, from regeneration company New East Manchester, said building work was expected to start by the end of the year, with completion in March 2012. She added: “We are talking to residents who have been able to influence some of the design features for their new homes.


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Appendix 3: Public Forum

Our colleagues in Manchester City Council have initiated a Public Forum on Creating the

Age-Friendly City. This will include workshops on issues raised by various projects

including the CALL-ME project. Full details of the forum are provided below.

Facing the Future:

Creating the Age-Friendly City

10am- 4pm, 1st November 2010

Manchester Town Hall

Organised by Manchester City Council, the Beth Johnson Foundation

and the Centre for Social Gerontology, University of Keele

Invitation

The seminar offers policy makers, researchers and practitioners the opportunity to establish practical collaborations designed to reshape urban neighbourhoods and services in line with World Health Organisation’s age-friendly approaches and principles. The seminar will build on national and international experience and evidence and expert lead pre-seminar workshops. It will identify priorities for a series of Manchester-focused partner collaborations and explore opportunities for joint learning opportunities.

Seminar themes include:

Age-inclusive design and the built environment

Positive ageing - A lifecourse approach

Communities for all ages

Loneliness and ageing in the city

Developing a ‘Culture Offer for older people’ Manchester-based policy makers and practitioners, government departments, other

local authorities, age-sector organisations and agencies, and academic partners will

all be attending.

For more information about participation in the seminar or expert workshops please

contact Paul McGarry on 0161 234 3503 or email [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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Seminar overview

Speakers include

o Professor Chris Phillipson, University of Keele o Councillor Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader, Manchester City Council o Professor Thomas Scharf, Irish Centre for Social Gerontology o David Cutler, Chief Executive, the Baring Foundation o Francois Matarasso, Arts Council England o Jim Soulsby, Association for Education and Ageing

Workshop themes

There will be two sets of workshops based around the seminar themes:

o Age-inclusive design and the built environment o Positive ageing: a lifecourse approach o Communities for all ages o Loneliness and ageing in the city o Developing a ‘Culture Offer for older people’ o Others to be confirmed

Plenary session

The plenary session will consider:

o Reports from the workshops setting out research proposals, projects and areas for further exploration and collaboration.

o A paper is being prepared by the conference organisers, outlining options for working together over the next two years.

o A post-seminar publication.

A final agenda will be available on the 1st October from the Valuing Older

People website www.manchester.gov.uk/vop

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/vop


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Expert workshops

A number of workshops are taking place in September and October bringing

together partners to produce proposals for discussion at the seminar.

Age-Inclusive Design and the Built Environment

Pre-seminar workshop takes place on 29th September in Manchester

Convened by Paul McGarry, Patrick Hanfling, Manchester Joint Health Unit/Beth

Johnson Foundation and Stefan White, Manchester School of Architecture

This workshop will explore how we can design or adapt our places and spaces to

make Manchester more age friendly and identify the cross over between social

policy and urban design. We will identify how this can help address social

challenges and develop a set of partnership initiatives to take this work forward in

Manchester and beyond. Workshop participants include the Department for Work

and Pensions, York, Lancaster, Salford and Keele Universities, and the Centre for

Construction Innovation.

Developing a cultural offer for older people

Pre-seminar workshop takes place on 7th October in Manchester

Convened by Sally Chandler, Manchester Joint Health Unit

This workshop builds on the launch of the Manchester Cultural Offer for Older

People in July 2009 and the successful bid to the Baring Foundation to improve

access to culture and creativity for older people in the city. Participants include: the

Manchester Cultural Offer Working Group, Keele University and the Baring

Foundation.

Positive Ageing - A lifecourse approach

Pre-seminar workshop takes place on 19th October in Stoke-on Trent

Convened by Lynne Wealleans, Beth Johnson Foundation (BJF)

Participants include Association for Education and Ageing, The Age and

Employment Network, AgeWell – Sandwell & Dudley PCT, Equality and Human

Rights Commission. There is increasing evidence of the benefits of applying a life

course approach to interventions targeted at key transition points in an individual’s

life. The mid-life generation has a pivotal role in society but this is often overlooked in


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the provision of services; mid-life is a time of considerable change and positive

ageing requires successfully managing these changes.

Evidence collected by BJF through pilot projects and partnership working shows that

individuals in mid-life would benefit from more targeted approaches in relation to a

number of specific issues and barriers.

This workshop will examine the case for targeting approaches at people in mid-life

and will do so within the context of:

The key elements involved in promoting the social inclusion of people in mid-life

The government’s ‘New approach to public health’ placing responsibility with local authorities

Communities for all ages

Pre-seminar workshop takes place on 5th October

Convened by Alan Hatton-Yeo and Louise Middleton, Beth Johnson Foundation

This workshop is an opportunity to meet and listen to leaders in the field of

Intergenerational working including Professor Nancy Henkin, Centre for

Intergenerational Learning at Temple University, USA and Alan Hatton-Yeo, CEO of

the BJF. It will illustrate international, national and local approaches to

Intergenerational working, explore the place of Intergenerational working within an

Age Friendly City and develop action plans to deliver approaches locally.

Loneliness and ageing in the city

Convened by Paul McGarry, Manchester Joint Health Unit and Professor Thomas

Scharf, Irish Centre for Social Gerontology.

Research shows that older people living in urban environments are at increased risk

of experiencing loneliness. A new Manchester guide to tackling loneliness is due for

publication in late 2010. Agencies will have the opportunity to join a ‘virtual

workshop’ about taking forward the findings of the new publication.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Supported by

o Manchester Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Research on Ageing o Working with Older People journal


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Facing the Future:

Creating the Age-Friendly City

10am- 4pm, 1st November 2010

Manchester Town Hall

Developing the ‘cultural offer’ for older people

Following the launch of the Cultural Offer for older people in July 2009 and the recent

successful bid to the Baring Foundation, we are on the brink of really being able to put a

spotlight on improving access to culture and creativity for older people in the city.

The culture and creativity work stream will run in two distinct sections:

11:30am – 12:45pm Session one: the bigger picture:

Introduced by David Cutler, Chief Executive of the Baring Foundation, who will talk about the

findings from their recent study and subsequent report ‘Ageing Artfully: Older People and

Professional Participatory Arts in the UK’. The report sets out the vision of an ageing

population able to participate in the riches and pleasures of an abundant cultural life and

explores some of the physical, psychological and social benefits from this participation. The

session will also hear about projects that can demonstrate some of these benefits.

Discussion will focus on sharing learning and networking with other UK cities interested in

this agenda.

1:30pm – 2:45pm Session two: challenging the Manchester plan:

An opportunity to inspire and challenge plans, the workshop will focus on the local

challenges and the development of creative collaborations to deliver improved access for

older residents to culture and creative expression within the city of Manchester. It will hear

from local older people and their involvement in the rich opportunities the city has to offer.

The seminar offers policy makers, researchers and practitioners the opportunity to establish

practical collaborations, challenge their plans and develop clear next steps for this

programme of work.

Both workshops will be chaired by Kate Organ, the Arts Advisor to the Baring Foundation.

Kate has been closely involved in the national study undertaken by Baring and as an

assessor on the grants programme. She also works freelance widely across the cultural and

heritage sector.


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Appendix 4: Dissemination plan

ORIGINAL DISSEMINATION PLAN (2007)

Practice and research outcome Building on successful strategies adopted in the applicants’ earlier studies (including as part of the ESRC’s Growing Older Programme), this research programme is designed to have community, policy and theoretical implications. Outputs will be aimed at both academic and a range of ‘user’ audiences. Scientific outputs

In terms of theory, the research programme will make a significant contribution to both disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge. New knowledge will relate both to the substantive issues addressed by the research, and to the innovative methods employed. To that end papers will be submitted for publication in high quality disciplinary and interdisciplinary journals spanning the social, behavioural and health sciences.

Papers will be presented at a wide range of national and international conferences, raising scientific awareness of the study and the wider NDA programme. The applicants will seek to submit joint symposia with other NDA investigators to such events as the IAGG World Congress of Gerontology (Paris, 2009).

Postgraduate students will be trained in interdisciplinary and collaborative ageing research.

Where appropriate, original datasets arising from the research will be submitted to national data archives.

‘User’ outputs:

The research programme is designed to promote the development and sustainability of community initiatives with diverse groups of older people. From the outset the community residents and partners will be involved in discussion about future opportunities and potential research outputs. It is planned to convene forums in each of the communities to discuss the findings and to consider plans for extending the initiatives.

Innovative forms of reportage will be developed to engage broader levels of the community. This might include, for example, DVDs, drama and other artistic performances.

In terms of policy, the research team will work closely with partners in Manchester, and elsewhere, to encourage the design of policies and practices that can improve the quality of older people’s lives. A wider audience of policy makers will be targeted through workshops. From these it is planned to develop a series of detailed policy guidelines.

A major contribution of the research will be to inform the ongoing development of Manchester City Council’s ageing strategy. In addition, the research will produce outputs aimed at Influencing regeneration activities currently under way in East Manchester. The research team will contribute, as appropriate, to the regular conferences organised as part of the city’s pathbreaking Valuing Older People programme.

While Manchester will act as the principal location for the research programme, other localities will be granted early access to key research outputs. The intention would be to encourage and monitor innovation in other types of location.

A wider audience of policy and service-users will be targeted through presentations at relevant workshops and conferences.


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The research team will seek to build on existing contacts in relevant central government departments to ensure that findings are reflected in national policy-making.

Authorship guidelines

1. The overall aim is to maximise the impact of the project in academic, policy and

community contexts

2. We should aim to publish and present findings in high impact journals and

conferences

3. Bearing in mind the REF, we should ensure journal articles are positioned to have

maximum impact within the various disciplines

4. As a team project it is expected that all members of the team have the

opportunity of contributing to publications

5. Membership of the research team does not guarantee authorship on any

publication.

6. Authorship is determined by the contribution of individual team members to the

particular publication

7. Authorship is generally expected to be joint or multiple

8. There is a distinction between publications about the whole project and those

about particular aspects of the project or about sub-projects.

9. These guidelines apply to all forms of dissemination

10. The grant holders are formally responsible for all aspects of dissemination

NDA CALL-ME Project Team

April 2010


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Appendix 5: Group Funding

The groups in each neighbourhood have accessed support from a variety of agencies.

A summary of these is provided below.

Name of Community Group Body Applied to Amount Received

Ardwick-Young at Hearts Valuing Older People £150

Ardwick-Young at Hearts Granada Foundation

Ardwick-Young at Hearts Esmee Fairbairn Foundation

Ardwick-Young at Hearts Manchester City Council (Change Grant) £600

Ardwick-Young at Hearts Learning Skills Employment Network £117

Ardwick-Young at Hearts Manchester City Council (Cash Grant) £630

Ardwick-Young at Hearts Community Development Foundation (Seed Fund) £1,000

Ardwick-Young at Hearts Sports Relief/Community Development Foundation £1,000

Ardwick-Young at Hearts Valuing Older People - Grub and Gossip £50

Ardwick Sub-total £3,547

Newton Heath-Exercise Class Valuing Older People (for Intructor costs) £300

Newton Heath-Exercise Class Gate 65+, Manchester Public Health Development Service (for Instructor costs) £2880

Newton Heath-Exercise Class Valuing Older People £150

Newton Heath Sub-total £3,330

Moss Side-Community Garden Group Manchester City Council - Change Grant £880

Moss Side-Community Garden Group Moss Care £1,000

Moss Side-Community Garden Group Manchester City Council - Cash Grant £3,000

Moss Side-Community Garden Group Manchester City Council - Cash Grant £500

Moss Side-Women's Support Group Manchester City Council - Change Grant £440


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Moss Side-Women's Support Group VOP Small Grant £150

Moss Side-Women's Support Group MossCare Housing £400

Moss Side Sub-total £6,370

Cheetham-Four Seasons Valuing Older People £85

Cheetham-Four Seasons Manchester City Council (Cash Grant) £1,583

Cheetham-Roses and Reels Manchester City Council (Cash Grant) £1,976

Cheetham-Roses and Reels Manchester City Council (Cash Grant) £480

Cheetham-Roses and Reels Greater Manchester Public Transport Executive £40

Cheetham-Roses and Reels Manchester City Council Cash Grants £1,590

Cheetham-Roses and Reels Age UK (via VOP) £100

Cheetwood Afro-Caribbean Garden Project Manchester City Council (Cash Grant) £845

Cheetham Sub-total £6,698

Grant total £12,945

Documents

CALL - ME - Keele University · CALL-ME Annual Report October 2010 2 Keele University Research Team Principal Investigator Michael Murray Co-Investigators Sian Maslin-Prothero