other important work

helping in a variety of ways

vital links

Vital Links is a three-year project currently working towards the establishment and development of a national network of befriending schemes. The network will support and promote local befriending schemes to help reduce social isolation and loneliness faced by many older people and promote independence and healthy living. It will also encourage peer support through volunteering by older people and intergenerational understanding by promoting befriending involving younger people.

sure start for later life

Following the Government's report on tackling social exclusion amongst older people, there was an opportunity to demonstrate how the Sure Start approach can be rolled out in neighbourhoods across the country. 'Sure Start for Later Life' was a one-year policy research project which looked at three innovative models for delivering better neighbourhood services for older people. These were extra-care sheltered housing, children's centres and neighbourhood watch schemes.

During the year, examples of these three models were identified, interviews with agencies were carried out and older people involved in talking about what works and why. A national event helped highlight good practice that was occuring across the country. The final report due out in Spring of this year will highlight lessons for roll-out, and publish and promote good practice.

'keeping control' with direct payments

Keeping Control was a three-year project, funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, to help people over 65 to get the most out of the Direct Payments Scheme. Itwas designed to support these people to access the best and most appropriate care and services for themselves, whilst ensuring that they kept control over their affairs.

Brief and Complete Direct Payments Guides
In September 2007, we published the Brief and Complete Direct Payments Guide for people over 65. Our guidesare resource tools to help older people make an informed decision about whether Direct Payments are a good option for them. Theywere developed after consultation with older people, carers and involved professionals.

The guides can be ordered by contacting Counsel and Care on 020 7241 8522 or downloading the publications order form.

care link

Care Link was a project designed to help fill some of the missing gaps in older people's advocacy across the country. Care Link started after the Advice Workers recognised that increasingly they were unable to refer individuals to local advocacy organisations because there was only patchy provision, and some local areas did not have any services of this kind.

Care Link attempted to encourage the beginnings of local advocacy groups for older people, supporting groups to start in areas where there was currently no provision and working with national advocacy and advice organisations to support local schemes already in place. The project ran from February 2006 to February 2008 and the final report is due in March 2008. Generous grants from the Balance Charitable Foundation and The Grand Charity supported this work.

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