Developing local Services for Ageing Well Communities through localco-designed partnerships.

HEI: LCC, University of the Arts.Main Partners: Age UK Newcastle, Ordnance SurveyFunders: Ordnance SurveyPlace: Byker, Newcastle.

Keywords: Ageing well, Neighbourhoods, community partnerships

The context

Context: This project grew from Ordnance Survey’s Geovation Challenge where Age UK Newcastle had been an unsuccessful finalist.

In the current climate of Local Authority cuts, Age Uk felt they needed new ways to connect to existing non-Age UK community Services.

The Project Response:

Taking a Design Anthropological approach, the project aimed to understand the role of place and daily practices for the ageing population of Byker in Newcastle. Students undertook participatory activities, volunteering at lunch clubs, joining tea dances and co-designing activities to understand a sense of place for local residents.

Actor profiles

Motivations for involvement (agendas): Sharing experiences of what they enjoyed about Byker as an elderly person, the struggles and difficulties and personal stories of what helps them to stay happy, content or issues that contribute to isolation.

To provide Age UK volunteers and employees with a greater understanding of the local community and to identify non-Age UK networks and services for the elderly.

Contribution to the project (assets): Age UK provided access to community centres, time and expertise. Financial support from Ordnance Survey for travel and staying in Newcastle.

The project outcomes for this actor: More joined up and visible services for the elderly within the community.

Framing the Questions:

How does the elderly community use local services within Byker?

How can Age UK Newcastle connect with local businesses to encourage partnerships in order to make services for the elderly more visible and available?

Creating Community business profiles.

•Pam’s: A local business that has been opened for more than 30 years.•Daily they have around 38-40 customers. Many of their clientele are established customers•Only women customers that go weekly or monthly.•The majority of the customers are elderly.

Methods Used: Co-designing with Cultural Probes

Methods Used: Co-designing through Photography capturing who and what is important.

Methods Used: Mapping stories and places

A new geomedia tool for Age UK to engage with its community, mapping businesses and community groups that provide vital services for the elderly.

Currently being prototyped in Newcastle the solution is a non-digital service reward scheme: Age UK will gain greater visibility in the community with the potential to expand their services locally and with business partners.

Businesses participating will have Age UK advertising in-store plus an Age UK sticker in their window.

Elderly card holder owners will receive financial benefits.

Age UK volunteers will also be able to own a card and receive rewards for supporting their community.

MDes Service Design Innovation students gain:

Experience in participatory and co-designing methods and practices.

An understanding of ethical issues and insights on working on social design projects.

An appreciation of the value of design as a catalyst for facilitation, visualization, experimentation and prototyping.

First hand experience of design’s role as a vehicle for change through a holistic visual lens.

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