Developing a Curriculum for empowering the individual

Work was undertaken to support the participation of older people in the planning of services and the development of their own communities and further. The views of older people were sought on what learning would support their involvement.

The initial information gathering work was carried out in Rhondda, Cynon, Tâf and on Ynys Môn. The level and type of consultation in which older people were engaged at the beginning of the project was recorded through questionnaire to members of the forums, through focus groups and through interviews with key professionals. The focus groups also explored the skills and information that older people felt they needed in order to be able to influence decisions.

During the year a report was issued on the development of activities within Communities First areas that indicated a change of direction for the project. The Welsh Assembly Government agreed a change in the allocation of funding and work was begun with some community development settings to explore what help community development workers might need in empowering older people and a course, Getting your voices heard, was devised and piloted in three areas Mountain Ash and Capel Farm in Rhondda Cynon Tâf and in Llangefni on Ynys Môn.

The final phase of the project was to offer training to community development workers and community activists including older people in the delivery of the course that had been devised. 5 two day course were planned with a maximum of 12 on each course.

 This work is supported by the Welsh Assembly Government Strategy for Older People through Age Alliance Wales. http://www.agealliancewales.org.uk/