Age UK Manchester are seeking to improve the accessibility of their services for older people in some of the most deprived areas of the city of Manchester by the provision of additional and flexible transport to their centres.
At Age UK Manchester’s three centres in Manchester: Wythenshawe, Openshaw and Gorton they want to broaden the membership of their existing projects to include individuals who may currently be excluded due to a lack of accessible transport.
There are a number of reasons why older people may be unable to use conventional public transport, some of these may be around physical frailty, mental health needs or simply a lack of confidence. Age UK Manchester are seeking to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle which will be used to bring very isolated older people to their local centres to enjoy a wide range of stimulating social activities that promote health and well being and reduce social isolation. Age UK Manchester’s staff and volunteers will support and enable passengers in their use of this transport and help to build their confidence and independence in getting out and about.
What Age UK Manchester will deliver:
• Reduced social isolation and opportunities for increasing benefit take up amongst older adults
• They will encourage older people to share their existing skills rather than focus on skills that are lost
• They will help more people to access and make use of assets of community value
• They will help to improve the local environment through use of green spaces with their Gardening and Mend and Make groups
• They will help to increase volunteering opportunities by offering opportunities for people to become ‘transport buddies’
• They will help to promote activity and leisure opportunities for isolated older people
Why it's a great idea:
• Research has shown that being isolated is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or being morbidly obese. Age UK Manchester works in some of the most deprived areas in the city of Manchester where life expectancy is lowest
• Age UK Manchester is committed to combating loneliness and to making later life in Manchester a time of opportunity, friendships and fun
• Help Age UK Manchester to reach out to lonely older people and end their isolation by offering opportunities to socialise, to learn and to share their many skills and wealth of experience with their local community
For further information and to donate, visit: www.spacehive.com/wheel-meet-again