Council awarded £100,000 to develop innovative ideas to support older people

Shropshire Council has been awarded £100,000 to develop innovative ideas to increase older people’s independence, confidence and links to others who can offer support. 

The council is to receive the funding from the Keeping Connected Business Challenge, which was launched to stimulate the development of new business ideas that can help older adults maintain and develop social connections. 

It is the only council among the four successful applicants, recognising the way the council is approaching challenges creatively. 

A total of 84 organisations originally applied to the challenge run by the Design Council and the Technology Strategy Board. These were shortlisted to nine applicants in November 2011 when the council received £5,000 to progress the proposals. 

The ideas for Shropshire are being developed through the Social Work Practice pilot scheme, People 2 People, which has been set up by social workers under a not-for-profit social enterprise to look at new ways of providing social work support for people to become more active and independent. 

The proposals outlined in the bid include supporting older people through a ‘self-help co-operative’, providing mentoring and coaching to focus on their interests, needs and aspirations, build confidence and reduce isolation. 

Councillor Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for adult social care, said:

“This success is another example of how we are changing the way adult social care services are developed and delivered to provide the best range of services for the people of our county.  We are working to ensure that residents needing social care services can receive support that is tailored to their individual needs. 

“To be one of just four winners in this nationwide challenge is a fantastic achievement.  It enables us to build on initiatives currently taking place, which include the creation of a new strategy for adult social care following the biggest consultation of its kind ever held in the county.  Shropshire has also been chosen as an ‘ageing well development area’, which means the council receives free expert support to put older people at the heart of health and well-being planning activities.

 “The development of these proposals fits perfectly with our wider work by exploring opportunities for new, additional services that help connect older people to their friends, family and communities.  It can become harder to stay connected and interact with others as we grow older, but this will help us to develop new ways of reducing isolation and loneliness, increasing confidence and the opportunities for support.” 

Councillor Steve Charmley, Cabinet member responsible for active and healthy lifestyles, said:

“The success of this bid, and the fact that we are the only council to be among the applicants sharing the funding, highlights our forward-thinking approach to facing challenges and improving services. 

“I would like to applaud everyone who has played a part in this accomplishment for their hard work and innovation.  The funding will allow us to progress ideas which will enhance the health and well-being of older people in Shropshire by strengthening networks and enabling older people to retain these when changes occur in their lives.”

Jackie Marshall-Cyrus, of the Technology Strategy Board, said:

“I am very excited about the positive outlook for older adults that lies at the heart of each of the winning team’s ideas. 

“These are all really innovative service propositions and I look forward to watching the teams’ progress as their ideas are developed and turned into reality over the next five months.” 

The Keeping Connected Business Challenge is part of the Independence Matters programme run by the Design Council and the Technology Strategy Board, which aims to encourage business innovation to meet the needs of an ageing population and challenge stereotypes and perceptions about later life.  For more information on the challenge, the Design Council and the Technology Strategy Board go to www.keepingconnected.co.uk

For further details on People 2 People click here.