Ageing Better in Birmingham

Connecting people over 50 in Birmingham to their communities.

Welcome to Ageing Better in Birmingham's Learning Depository! The programme is closing down and this website functions as an archive and collection of learning from the programme's seven years of delivery.

Ageing Better in Birmingham began in 2015 to reduce loneliness and social isolation amongst people over 50 and to help them to live fulfilling lives. It was funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and was one of 14 Ageing Better programmes in England working to explore what works in reducing loneliness and isolation through a test and learn approach.

It was delivered by a partnership of organisations across the city, led by Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC). It built upon the strengths and skills of individuals and groups to help create sustainable change within communities.

Together, we reached over 10,300 people across the city.

Here you can find out more about what the programme achieved, information about social isolation and loneliness in Birmingham and also resources to support the programme's legacy.

Have a browse!

Ageing Better in Birmingham 2015 -2022 Infographic

Find out how we worked to get Birmingham's older citizens connected

Useful resources & learning

Report: How a Black, Asian and minority ethnic partnership tackled social isolation amongst older people in Camden.

Report published 11th November 2021.

Ageing Better in Camden (ABC) is a partnership of older people and local organisations in Camden with the aim to develop creative ways for people aged over 50 to be actively involved in their local communities to help tackle social isolation and loneliness. ABC is part of Age UK Camden and one of the 14 National Lottery Community Fund Ageing Better programmes across England.

Two years into the Ageing Better in Camden programme, it was apparent that the approach so far had not enabled them to engage with smaller Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E.) communities in Camden. To address this, ABC designed and developed a B.A.M.E. Community Action Project (CAP) in 2018 which included finding a way to fund, support and develop the capacity of small B.A.M.E.-led organisations to tackle loneliness and social isolation in older people within smaller minority communities in Camden.

A three-tier partnership was developed and commissioned to deliver the project as presented in the figure below. The partnership is currently made up of seven Black-led organisations who plan and deliver activities to older people in their respective communities. This project was funded until December 2021.

Read the report here

Latest

Calling all runners! Take on a fundraising challenge for disadvantaged children

We need your help to fight education inequality. Can you support by fundraising for us in the Birmingham 10K on 5th May? At Action Tutoring, we believe in the power of tutoring. We’re dedicated to ensuring more disadvantaged students receive the support they need to reach their full academic potential, and achieve important pass grades in English and maths. But we cannot do it without you.
Awareness Ambassador

As an Awareness Ambassador, you can play an important role in increasing awareness of diabetes locally and online. You will support Diabetes UK campaigns by taking leaflets and posters along to local community venues such as libraries and community centres and like and share on our social media.
Events Volunteer

Events volunteers help raise awareness of diabetes and Diabetes UK at events around Leicestershire. Events volunteers talk to members of the public in a friendly and enthusiastic manner to raise awareness of diabetes and Diabetes UK, offer appropriate Diabetes UK materials and answer general queries.
Birmingham Hospice Charity Shops - Volunteer Vacancies

Volunteers needed at Birmingham Hospice retail stores. We have 21 shops and are always in need of volunteers.

Report: Creating lasting social connections

Supporting people to make social connections and friendships is an important way to ensure sustainable outcomes from programmes like Ageing Better in Birmingham that seek to reduce loneliness and social isolation.
Evaluation of Ageing Better in Birmingham

This report draws together key findings from across the five years of Ageing Better in Birmingham programme evaluation to date.
Co-production videos from Birmingham

Videos on co-production, with learning from Birmingham
Carers' Voice Local Action Plan

A project to raise awareness of the issues that older carers face and support available.
Podcast episode: A conversation about LGBT experiences in care home settings

The Changing Practice in Adult Social Care Provision project aimed to raise awareness of LGBT equality and inclusion and promote the adoption of best practice in Adult Social Care for older LGBT people
Ageing with Pride campaign

A review of a campaign that aimed to shine a light on Birmingham's older LGBT+ community.
Evaluation of Connect Sparkbrook Local Action Plan

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.
Tyburn Walking Maps

Walking maps around Tyburn, an outer-city suburb north-east of the city centre.
Digital tools for creating grassroots activity

Explanation of what digital tools community groups can use to connect or work collaboratively online.
Micro-funding to enable digital inclusion

Learning about funding projects focusing on digital connectedness through micro-funding.