Give it some gusto

An event this week, featuring everything from a 1940s-inspired band to juggling, will give people an opportunity to share their thoughts on any activities they would like to get more involved in.

The free event tomorrow, Thursday 16 February 2012, at Claremont Baptist Church in Shrewsbury, will also include crafts, IT skills, belly dancing, hand massages and tea and cake.

It has been organised as part of the Gusto project which is looking at new ways for older people to get together with others, do more of the activities they love and try new things.

At the event, taking place from 1pm to 4pm, people will be able to enjoy and try out any of the activities and discuss:

• What kind of activities they want to attend that they are not already taking part in
• What sort of activities people could host themselves
• How they want services to look and feel.

Following tomorrow’s event, the Shropshire Council team leading the project will look at what people have said, alongside other feedback, and see where people can be matched to activities already happening in the community.  The team would also like to hear from people who could host new activities with their support.  The project is currently working with people in the Shrewsbury and surrounding rural areas.

The council was awarded almost £100,000 from the Design Council and the Technology Strategy Board to run the project, which aims to develop innovative ideas to increase older people’s independence, confidence and links to others who can offer support.  It was the only council among the successful applicants in the national Keeping Connected Business Challenge, recognising the way the council is approaching challenges creatively.

Councillor Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council Cabinet member responsible for community engagement, said:

“We want the people who can really benefit from this scheme to shape the project.

“We are listening to their views on what might encourage them to take part in more activities and how they can support others in their communities.  We are celebrating the wealth of skills and knowledge in the community and looking to improve links so that people can work together to help each other.  The project recognises that having a strong network of people around you is fundamental to independence and well-being.

“This is about putting the customer at the heart of what we do, finding solutions based on what individuals want to embrace, and bringing people together through their shared interests and passions.”

Councillor Ann Hartley, Cabinet member for health and well-being, added:

“We are working to ensure that people are supported in ways that best suit their individual needs.

“The project builds on initiatives currently taking place, which include a new strategy for adult social care following the biggest consultation of its kind ever held in the county. During the consultation people told us they want to have more choice, control, independence and alternatives to traditional services.

“We are looking across the board to find innovative ways to ensure that services are being delivered in the best way possible and help people to remain independent and active members of their communities for as long as possible.”

The project is 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.

For further information about Gusto contact Jo Kilcoyne on 07511 139932 or email jo@giveitsomegusto.org

Further information

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 http://www.keepingconnected.co.uk

For further details on People 2 People click here.