Inside this issue:

Manchester Full of Life Festival

The Age Debate

NDA Workshops

Ardwick

Cheetham

Moss Side

Newton Heath

NDA - London Meeting

Meet the research

team

What is the NDA?

CALL-ME Team participate in the

Manchester Full of Life Festival

December 2009

CALL-ME NOW! Number 4

What is the

NDA

Programme?

Find out more on

the back page...

Welcome to the fourth edition of Call-Me Now! the Newsletter for

CALL-ME, an NDA funded research project. CALL-ME is a research

project which aims to promote social engagement and independence

among older people in disadvantaged communities in Manchester.

Research participants and members of the CALL-ME research team were amongst almost 200 people who took part in this year's Age Debate, o rg a n i se d a s p a r t o f Manchester's annual Full of Life Festival. The full-day event took place in Manchester's historic Town Hall and included a mix of lectures and workshops.

Newsletter of the CALL-ME Project

Participants from Newton Heath

join the debate

Season’s Greetings

from the CALL-ME team

The day was organised by Professor Tom Scharf from Keele University and the Valuing Older P e o p l e T e a m a t Manchester City Council.

Page 2 CALL-ME NOW!

The Age Debate

The Age Debate day began with presentations on the theme of „Unequal Ageing‟. This was chosen to coincide with the publication of the book: 'Unequal ageing: The untold story of exclusion in old age', edited by Paul Cann and Malcolm Dean. The day was introduced by Councillor Sue Cooley from Manchester City Council who has special responsibility for older people, then Paul Cann gave an overview of the issues raised by Unequal Ageing. Next Tom Scharf, from the CALL-ME team, spoke about unequal income in later life and how this is influenced by early life experiences. Finally James Nazroo, Manchester University, spoke about unequal health in later life and the differing outcomes this produces.

Participants in the Age Debate had the opportunity to attend a variety of work-shops on topics such as sexual health for over-50s and Manchester's Ageing Strategy. The day concluded with a lively panel discussion chaired by Mal-colm Dean, who worked on The Guardian for 38 years. The audience of academics, practitioners, students and older people appreciated the mix of contributions and topics.

Unequal Ageing: launched at this

year’s Age Debate

Elsie and Florence from the Keep Fit class,

Newton Heath at the Age Debate

Tom Scharf, a member of the Call-ME team, and

Paul Cann, one of the editors of Unequal Ageing

Manchester Action — NDA Workshops at the Age Debate

Page 3 Number 4

Audrey presenting the ‘Young at Heart’

Project

The CALL-ME project involves older people from across Manchester who are shaping activities aimed at promot-ing engagement and social participa-tion in disadvantaged city neighbour-hoods. Research participants from each of the project‟s study areas used the occasion to present their work to a public audience for the first time.

Edmund talks about the

Garden Project in Cheetham Hill

Audrey spoke about the Art initiative in West Gorton which had opened up a community space for young and old. Ed-mund spoke about the successes and challenges involved in improving their sheltered housing scheme through gar-dening. A Moss Side resident spoke movingly about the new hope for commu-nity relations which the inter-generational „Peace Garden‟ project had given him. Members of the Keep-Fit class in Newton Heath humorously commented on their rejuvenation through chair-based exer-cises.

The presentations were universally well received and generated a very lively dis-cussion. Participants from the CALL-ME project also made the most of the oppor-tunity to get to know people involved in activities in other parts of Manchester.

Page 4 CALL-ME NOW!

Ardwick—West Gorton

The Young at Heart Community Group & Computer club in West Gorton continues to grow in numbers, creative skills and confidence. It now has a registered membership of 18 and meets weekly. Over the past few months the group has organised community outings and have hosted a „neighbourhood celebration‟ at the close of the 10x10 community chal-lenge art project. This was a big success with about 40 people participating.

The group is now working on a collaborative project - designing and producing a com-munity calendar. This will go on sale at a neighbourhood launch on the 14

th December,

along with hand made greeting cards which the groups are producing at the weekly ses-sions. A visit from Father Christmas, mince pies and entertainment from West Gorton‟s Young People should make this an exciting event and raise funds for the group to pursue further activities.

The success of the group has been acknowledged by the Nova Scarman Trust which as-sisted the group through a series of workshop sessions. The Trust aims to highlight the group as a case study of „good practice and outcomes‟. The group are also to be repre-sented in the local ward newsletter with a news article and photographs.

A recent trip to Blackpool proved a great success. A total of 15 older residents enjoyed the Pier, amusements, rock shops, the beach, fish & chips and the pub before driving through the illumina-tions. This was especially significant for one older resident, who had not previ-ously been to the seaside. On the ride home she told the group “I never thought I would ever get to see the seaside, oh it was fantastic, really beautiful, I shall remember this day for the rest of my life”.

The group has also held meetings with local community artist Ian McKay and has applied for funding for an additional art project which will hopefully begin mid February. Continuing with the theme of „Local life & Community‟ the residents will use photography and silk screen printing to document and represent their „local environment‟. An exhibition of the work will be held in the early spring to cele-brate and display the group‟s artistic repre-sentations.

Page 5 Number 4

Cheetham and Crumpsall

The group has just been awarded two grants by Manchester City Council to purchase equipment, plants and sundries for the garden and a projector and screen for the film club. Again, this group is keen to enter the Manchester In Bloom competition next year. This is the first time residents from Crumpsall have been able to enter In Bloom and this is a direct result of the support from the CALL-ME team. The Cheetwood Caribbean Gardening Project: This is a garden project with members of the Afro-Caribbean Men‟s Carers Group, which is located in the Cheetwood Community Centre. The Big Life Company manages the centre and the staff have been very supportive. The group hopes to develop a Caribbean themed area and plant fruit and vegetables as well as colourful bedding and shrubs. They also want to enter the Manchester In Bloom competition. They are meeting with council officers on 23rd November to discuss the provision and cost of raised beds and will then submit a grant application. IT project with Johnnie Johnson Housing Association: Sian and Jan have met with residents to discuss their views about how IT could be introduced in the scheme and how they would like the project to run. Sian and Jan then met with Manchester Digital Development Agency, which is part of the city council, to discuss the resident‟s proposals. They committed to producing some possible models for implementation. Jan attended a meeting with residents and Richard Wright (Johnnie Johnson‟s resident involvement manager) to discuss residents‟ proposals. Richard was positive about these and said he would support them with his management board. Sian continues to liase with residents, MDDA and Richard on introducing IT into the housing scheme.

Sian Maslin-Prothero and Jan Bailey are continuing to work in Cheetham/Crumpsall with residents and service providers on the following projects: The Four Seasons Gardening Club: this has now been running for eight months. The members have recently planted winter bedding and are making plans for the spring and summer. They are very keen to enter the Manchester In Bloom competition in 2010.

The Four Seasons Garden Club

Five members of the group attended the Full of Life Festival; Brian and Edmund gave a talk about the project and their experience of working with the NDA team. All who attended said that they enjoyed the day and particularly enjoyed seeing what other groups had done and talking with them about their projects.

“It was good to see that academics are tak-ing an interest in older people” Kath Edmund and Vicky attended the NDA Advi-sory Board meeting in Manchester; both said that they found it very informative and would like to be involved in similar meetings.

“I enjoyed hearing from the other groups about what they are doing and I think it would be good if we could all get to-gether…I would like to go to other meet-ings and keep up to date with what is go-ing on.” Edmund Roses and Reels: a gardening and film club set up with residents of Clifford Hilditch Court, a Johnnie Johnson sheltered housing scheme.

Page 6 CALL-ME NOW!

Moss Side

Tom Scharf and Sharon Middling continue to work alongside a number of community groups in Moss Side, and have developed particularly strong working relationships with Our Lady‟s Lunch Club, the Moss Side Community Garden Group, and the Somaliland Women‟s Group.

Being involved in a research project, especially one that involves a significant commitment in terms of time and energy, is a new challenge for many older people involved in the CALL-ME pro-ject. Part of our work involves finding out more about what the experience of taking part is like. Here, Anne Goldrick, who belongs to the Moss Side Community Garden Group, reveals her own views about this experience.

“When Tom and Sharon approached members of a group of over-50s about a proposed Peace Gar-den in Moss Side, whilst sounding a daunting pro-ject, those of us living close to the site were very much inspired. We were especially attracted by the suggestion that this could involve a group of youngsters from local schools and youth groups working alongside older people to design the gar-den and undertake education at a local Commu-nity Garden Centre.

In order to apply for a grant from Manchester City Council, a committee was formed and a bank ac-count opened. On approval, a development grant of £880 was received. Visits to other local com-munity gardens gave the group an idea of what had been achieved on similar projects with beau-tiful shrubs and plantings, paving and raised beds.

The garden site is enormously important to the area, being at a vital crossroads which carries peak-time traffic into and out of the City. We feel that a “Peace Garden” in Moss Side will have a massive impact on how the area is perceived af-ter years of being portrayed in the media in a negative manner.

There is tremendous enthusiasm and support around the project. During the Autumn and Win-ter, pruning of existing trees will take place, the hard landscaping should be completed and plant-ings in the spring involving local school children and youth groups will follow through the seasons. This should give the younger people a sense of ownership of the garden.

As things progress, competitions will be held among the young people to find a name for the garden, design a wildlife area and commission artwork which will symbolise the essence of hope for the future and celebrate the community and people of Moss Side and Hulme.”

Moss Side Community Garden Group

Photographs

The Story So Far

The Garden in the Future

Where we are now

The beginnings… Formalising the

group

Group trips Local contacts

Training,

gardening sessions

and design

Hurdles and

obstacles

Somaliland Women’s Group: After meeting the group of women at the beginning of the year, Tom and Sharon have been working alongside the group, supporting them to meet weekly at St James Church Hall. During this time the group has also been working with Janet Bainbridge from the Novas Scarman Group. Janet has been providing the group with useful information and support con-cerning, for example, the advantages and disad-vantages associated with establishing themselves as a formal group. Other issues to consider have been the group‟s relationship with other women‟s groups, and where the group will continue to meet. In recent weeks the group has started meeting regularly on Tuesdays for a chat, drink and some-thing to eat. They are now working towards formal-ising the group, and will be applying for funding to support a range of planned activities. At the same time the group is considering whether to establish a formal link with another Somali women‟s group. Our Lady’s Lunch Club: This lively group of women have been very welcoming towards Sharon and Tom since the CALL-ME project first started its work in Moss Side. Some group members have taken part in individual interviews and focus groups. Members of the group have talked openly about how the club was first set up, its day to day running, the way it has developed over time, and plans for the future. People who took part in one focus group associated their attendance at the club with happiness, contentment and friendship. The overall feeling within the group was summed up well by one woman who said: “...Tuesday is the day of the week that we all look forward to...” It is evident that the lunch club provides a valuable re-source for Moss Side and Hulme. As one woman commented: “...there are a lot of people who come here today who don‟t see or associate with anyone again until next Tuesday...”.

Page 7 Number 4

Newton Heath

“Give me a leg up…”: Fun and exercises to keep fit in later life

A group of around 10 to 12 women aged between 64 and 86 years continue to meet weekly at the Catholic Social Club in Newton Heath to improve their health and wellbeing through chair-based exercises. The class is facilitated by Friederike Ziegler and has since May been taught by qualified instructor Natalie Manderson. Natalie comments: “The participants are a very eager and committed group who are becoming more confident and able with time. The group are lovely to work with”. The members engage in a range of activities from stretching and loosening of joints to gentle massage and the graceful and relaxing movements of Tai Chi. Quick reactions are tested when the group play catch with several balls simultaneously. Natalie says that this exercise improves hand-eye co-ordination, but the attempt usually ends with balls flying in all directions and everyone in fits of laughter. The group have met outside of the class in order to reflect on issues and discuss its future. Members commented that they enjoyed the social and fun aspects of the class as well as the exercises them-selves. Many were already feeling the benefits to their physical wellbeing such as more flexibility in the joints. Some members reported that they continue the exercises at home.

The main concern of the group has been maintaining numbers for regular atten-dance. One of the conditions of the cur-rent funding body (Manchester Public Health Development Service) has been a minimum attendance of ten per session. The group membership has recently grown and now fulfils this condition. As part of the Manchester Full of Life Festival the exercise class was awarded £150 of funding for an Open Day and Taster Session. The event was publicised with a free buffet through posters in the area, and everyone enjoyed the abundant food after the exercise activity.

Members of the class also took part in the Age Debate event at the Town Hall. Pat, Elsie and Mary presented a brief report on the Keep Fit group‟s progress. Afterwards Sheila and Pat commented that they particularly enjoyed listen-ing to the other NDA groups‟ achievements. They found that “it was good to meet other groups and to get to know what they do”. And group members Joan and Margaret at-tended the recent CALL-ME Advisory Board Meeting at the Royal Exchange Theatre. Both enjoyed the event and the venue. Joan says “it was nice to see the friends the researchers have made in the other areas”.

Doreen, Mary, Joan and Pat doing strengthening

exercises using an elastic band

Members of the Keep Fit class meeting to discuss the

presentation for the Age Debate workshop

Academy of Social Sciences Recognition

Professor Tom Scharf's significant contribution to the social sciences has recently been acknowledged by the Academy of Social Sciences - the body charged with promoting the social sciences in the UK for the public benefit.

Tom, Director of Keele‟s Centre for Social Gerontology and a member of the CALL-ME team, is one of 64 leading social scientists to have the award of Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences conferred upon him in the latest round. The award fol-lows Tom‟s nomination by the British Society of Gerontology. It recognises in particular his work relating to ad-vantage and disadvantage in later life.

Page 8 CALL-ME NOW!

Making a difference….together

The NDA CALL-ME team are collaborating with service providers to make a difference for older people in Manchester. The team met with representative from Manchester City Council‟s Valuing Older People Team, ZEST, Adult Social Care and Northwards Housing in West Gor-ton in September to create an opportunity for dialogue and for develop-ing partnerships between academics and practitioners working with older people in Manchester. The partnership aims to inform community devel-opment practice through evidence based on rigorous research, and to inform policy and practitioner guidelines through practitioners‟ own ex-periences. The group discussed issues around older people‟s social isolation; the political and economic context of doing community development work; the intense engagement necessary by professionals to facilitate commu-nity groups; and the lack of appreciation by services managers and pol-icy makers of the value of this type of work for improving wellbeing and the quality of life of older people.

May 2009 CALL-ME workshop on Data collection and analysis, Keele University - Attended by the team members (see picture below)

Other Activities…….

Page 9 Number 4

NDA Graduate Symposium, Keele University - organised by Amanda, Sharon and Jan ERA-AGE (Emerging Researchers on Ageing) Conference, Cardiff University - attended by Sharon and Jan

July 2009 International Society of Critical Health Psychology Conference, Switzerland - Paper given by Michael Murray World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Paris - Poster presented by Tom Scharf Sept 2009 British Society of Gerontology, University of West England, Bristol - symposium on Arts and Ageing convened by Michael Murray

Page 10 Page 10 CALL-ME NOW!

Reflections on Research Progress

I was very pleased that the meet-ing included representatives from each of the four neighbourhoods who are the real experts living in disadvantaged areas. It was a pleasure to meet Victoria Tandon, Edmund Edgar, Joan Jarvis, Mar-garet Aston and Audrey Hurley and listen to their experiences, views and ways forward. Thank you to the CALL-ME Team for bringing the experts along.

Getting older people interested or in-volved and encouraging them to lead and run their own projects, forming committees, applying for grants and managing their finances is extremely difficult and the groups have to be credited with their achievements but also need reassurance that they will get continued practical and financial support if needed once the CALL-ME project has completed its three year period. The cooperation and support of the Valuing Older People team is vital to the success and aims of the CALL-ME project.

Joan and Margaret from Newton Heath

Members discuss the Project’s progress

It is reassuring that Manchester City Council are working towards provid-ing people of all ages with a good quality of life in age-friendly neighbour-hoods and I am confident that the findings from the CALL-ME research project will support and enhance their objectives.

Jim Harding is a representative of the NDA Older People’s Reference Group from Lincolnshire – these are some of his comments on the CALL-ME Advisory Board Meeting held on the 13th October 2009 at the Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester:-

Page 11 Page 11 Number 4

NDA Programme Meeting, London

Tom Scharf and Roger Beech represented the CALL-ME team at the most recent meeting of the New Dynamics of Ageing programme. The programme as a whole involves researchers from a wide range of academic disciplines who are based at universities across the UK. These meetings are a useful way for the many people involved in the programme to share their experiences and exchange ideas. The NDA programme is directed by Professor Alan Walker from the University of Sheffield. In his introductory comments to the day, Alan highlighted the emphasis that the organisations that fund the programme are placing on the „impact‟ of research. Individual project teams, including the CALL-ME team, are being encouraged to think beyond the objectives of their own research and to consider how their work can help to improve policy making or, in some cases, lead to the development of new products. Improving the quality of older people‟s lives remains a central objective of the NDA programme. The meeting also provided an opportunity for a number of newly funded NDA projects to present their ideas for the first time. Of the 12 new projects, one is based at Keele. The project, entitled „Ages and Stages: The Place of Theatre in Representations and Recollections of Ageing‟ involves a collaboration between Keele University and the New Victoria Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme. Michael Murray is part of the team that is leading this exciting new project. Further details of the Ages and Stages project are available at: http://www.esci.keele.ac.uk/kudis/webs/agesandstages/index.htm The national New Dynamics of Ageing programme has its own website,

which includes regularly updated information on the various projects

involved. For details visit: http://www.newdynamics.group.shef.ac.uk/

OUR PARTNERS:

Manchester City Council

Valuing Older People Project

Paul McGarry

Sally Chandler

Jane Morris

Rachel York

Research Team

Investigators:

Michael Murray

Tom Scharf

Sian Maslin-Prothero

Roger Beech

Research Associate:

Friederike Ziegler

Field Worker:

Amanda Crummett

Doctoral Researchers:

Sharon Middling

Jan Bailey

Project Administrator:

Kim Rawlinson

Phone: 01782 734598

Email: k.rawlinson@ilcs.keele.ac.uk

Visit our website at

www.keele.ac.uk/

callme

CALL-ME Project

What Is the NDA Programme?

The New Dynamics of Ageing programme is a seven year multidisciplinary research initiative with the ultimate aim of improving quality of life of older people. The pro-gramme is a unique collaboration between five UK Research Councils - ESRC, EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC and AHRC - and is the largest and most ambitious research programme on ageing ever mounted in the UK. Find out more at:

http://newdynamics.group.shef.ac.uk/

CONTACT DETAILS Kim Rawlinson—Project

Administrator Research Institute for Life

Course Studies Claus Moser Research Centre

Keele University Staffordshire ST5 5BG