Fifty Plus Partnership

IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE - LIFE BEGINS AT 50 & OVER

WHERE WE ARE NOW

We are already well on the way to improving the quality of life for all of Trafford’s citizens aged 50 and older.

From a series of engagement events and working with local organisations, we have already identified a vision and a set of priorities for improving the lives of people aged 50 or over. An Older People’s Partnership Board drawn from a wide crosssection of groups including the NHS, Council, Black and Minority Ethnic groups and voluntary organisations has been established to guide and monitor this.

Through a wide range of consultations and participation in groups that discuss improving services, our 50 + citizens are increasingly getting involved with the planning of services, and an Older People’s Involvement Officer has been appointed to further improve engagement.

The Intergen Project is providing volunteering opportunities for inter-generational work in local schools, with older people participating in a range of roles from gardening to outward-bound activities and from piano playing to listening to the children read. We also ensure that all people are kept well informed of services and local activities, through articles, showcase events and campaigns.

The Council, NHS, voluntary organisations, private sector businesses and the Pensions Service work in close partnership to provide the required services. These include a Bogus Caller initiative, employment opportunities for people over 50, a joint approach to long-term healthcare and improved services for the Black and Minority Ethnic communities.

WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN 2021

By 2021, we want Trafford to be a great, if not the best, Borough for all people over 50 to live, learn, work and relax.

We will have:

• No barriers to people getting out and about and feeling safe
• Full participation from older people within their communities
• Older people centrally involved in planning improvements for the services that they use
• A greater understanding of the potential of older people as valued members of the community, across all organisations in the Borough
• Older people living healthier and more independent lifestyles
• No age discrimination

WHAT WE WILL DO TO GET THERE

The Older People’s Partnership Board
This Board provides the vehicle through which we will co-ordinate all plans across public services in the Borough, providing links with other partnerships. It is also responsible for the implementation, monitoring, review and reworking of the Older People’s Strategy’s vision and priorities.

Sustained engagement
Through making resources available, we will improve the engagement of Trafford residents across all services. The Trafford Older People’s Voice network will ensure that people are supported in their involvement.

PRIORITIES FOR 2006-2009
Improving involvement

• Set up an over 50’s Network by March 2007.
• Ensure the inclusion of those who may not previously have been fully involved in improving public services.
• Empower people to believe that they are making a difference and that their views really do count.

Making it easier for people to get out and about

• Improve pavements and accessibility.
• More older people involved in planning public transport.

Provide information

• Identify preferred locations and methods to provide easy access to information by December 2006.
• Publish easily understood information explaining how to get involved.
• Develop a volunteer scheme using older people to support other older people to access and understand information.

Opportunities to keep busy

• Increase opportunities for accessible learning.
• Increase employment opportunities and access to skills development.
• Improve accessibility to exercise, learning and leisure activities.

People feeling valued and safer

• Increase the numbers of people advised about bogus callers during 2006.
• Develop more intergenerational activities that, in turn, develop understanding across generations, cultures and religions.
• Involve older people in making others feel safer.

Support for independence and well-being

• Develop a more integrated approach to identifying older people whose income can be increased through benefit take-up by March 2007.
• Provide more integrated care services that enable people to receive services at or closer to home.
• Provide ‘extra care’ housing which will enable older people to have greater choice in where they live. Build new housing to meet the ’Lifetime Homes’ standard so that people with limited mobility are able to stay in their own homes by March 2009.

HOW YOU WILL KNOW THAT WE ARE SUCCEEDING

We will actively monitor the local quality of life indicators to provide a picture of progress towards our vision to ensure that by 2021 we have created opportunities for all people over 50 to be active, healthy and valued members of the community.

50+ Strategy: "Our Lives, Our Voice, Our Future" - (PDF Version). If you would like a hard copy of this document, or if you would like to pledge your help in making our vision a reality, please contact:

Gill Armstrong
50+ Involvement Officer
Tel: 0161 973 5741
Email: gill@vcatrafford.org