Ageing Better in Birmingham was a seven-year grassroots, asset-based approach that aimed to create a new movement of community action on ageing and isolation across the city of Birmingham. It had four priority areas: geographic areas with a higher risk of isolation (Sparkbrook and Tyburn) and groups with a higher risk of isolation (older LGBT people and older carers).

Local Action Plans were developed and introduced in each of the priority areas in Year 3 of the programme. They were designed to understand the causes of isolation and, through local interventions, create longer-term positive change for older people within the community.

The Muath Trust was commissioned to deliver the Connect Sparkbrook Local Action Plan project. A consortium of organisations was subcontracted to deliver the six activity streams and were core partners of the project. These were: Ashiana Community Project, The Springfield Project, Narthex Sparkhill and Disability Resource Centre.

The six activity streams were:

• Venue assessments
• Volunteer management and social prescribing
• Social media development and ‘Telling Our Story’
• Resource development
• Group development and supporting small organisations
• Creating activity in open and green spaces

The evaluation provides a primarily qualitative narrative that explores the contribution of the Local Action Plan project to the wider Ageing Better in Birmingham programme aims. An iterative approach to the evaluation was adopted to reflect changes in project delivery.

Evaluation of Connect Sparkbrook Local Action Plan