CDHN: Networking Event Topic: Older People

1
CDHN Networking EventTopic Older People

• By
• Karen ODonnell
• Strabane Community Project(SCP)

2
Presentation will include

• 10-15 minute presentation
• An overview on the work of Strabane Community
  Project (SCP),and the range of services we
  provide to meet the needs of older people in the
  local community(Strabane District Council area).

3
Strabane Community Project (SCP)Areas Covered
4
Strabane Community Project (SCP)Our Mission

• ? SCP provides excellent quality assured
  services, projects and programmes which support
  the quality of life experience for its users-the
  elderly, disabled, unemployed and marginalised
  contributing to social and community renewal in
  the Strabane District Council area.
• ? SCP supports creative partnership working with
  relevant voluntary and community sector and
  statutory agencies,e.g Age Concern, Help the
  Aged,Easilift Transport,WHSCT and DEL.

5
Strabane Community ProjectCore Values

• ? CommitmentSCP supports a compassionate
  Christian response to all its client groups and
  users.
• ? RespectSCP values the inherent dignity and
  worth of people.
• ? SCP values integrity within its community
  practice and believes the project must
  demonstrate accountability.
• ? Power sharing The importance of partnership
  working.SCP is committed to building
  relationships which are mutually empowering and
  supportive.
• ? SCP values real participation in all decisions
  that affect the lives of service users. Listening
  to the voices, concerns and ideas of older
  people.
• ? SCP has a positive interest in the role of
  civil society and promoting active citizenship.
  Positively including the older person as a valued
  citizen .

6
Strabane Community Project (SCP)Background
Information

• ? SCP began as St.Patricks Luncheon club in 1987
  providing meals for older people from the local
  community.
• ? A voluntary organisation supported by the local
  Parish and Sisters of Mercy.
• Continued to expand its community activity and in
  1992 became a community organisation with
  Charitable Status known as Strabane Community
  Project(SCP).
• The Projects focus now included programmes to
  combat the high unemployment in the East Ward of
  Strabane which continues to have one of the
  highest deprivation levels in Northern Ireland.

7
Strabane Community Project (SCP) Background
Information (contd)

• SCP was developed under the Action for Community
  Employment(ACE) in the mid 1990s and 54 people
  were employed through the scheme.
• During the 1990s SCP played a crucial role in
  supporting the development of new community
  groups sharing knowledge and experiences,e.g
  Strabane Community Unemployed Resource
  Centre,Strabane Association for the Temporary
  Homeless and Springhill Development Association.
• In 2000 ACE was terminated, meaning a loss of
  funding for SCP however SCP directors made the
  decision to continue the Project providing key
  services to the community, retaining staff and
  attracting volunteers.

8
Strabane Community Project (SCP) Background
Information (contd)

• Since 2000 the Project has continued to expand
  its core business of providing up to 130 meals
  daily to older people in the Strabane District
  Council area.
• SCP is now the largest community provider of
  Meals in the North West if not Northern Ireland.

9
Strabane Community Project (SCP) Current Services

• ? The Project now has Service Level Agreements
  with WHSCT to provide
• -Meals on Wheels service to a 10 mile radius in
  the Strabane District Council area.
• -Luncheon Club service for up to 40 people
  daily(Monday to Friday).
• -Respite Care for Carers service up to 40 hours
  per month.
• -Flexicare Services(Shopping,Chaperoning and
  Transport) up to 30 hours per week.
• SCP also provide a range of services, activities
  and projects which include
• -Good Morning, Afternoon and Evening telephone
  alert service calling up to 200 older people
  daily to check on their health, safety and well
  being.

10
Strabane Community Project (SCP) Current Services
(contd)

• -A Building the Community Pharmacy Partnership
  project Working Together for Positive Living
  increasing the knowledge and skills of 30 older
  people through a range of information sessions,
  training and physical activity.
• - Light Exercises for 20 older people as part of
  Ageing Well Reach,Year 2 programme Promoting
  Good Mental Health and Well Being.
• -Warm Zones pilot project assessing the homes of
  older people in rural areas of Strabane for
  insulation and heat loss and providing guidance
  on Fuel Poverty.
• -Access to Benefits Screening tool.
• -Transport to Social Evenings and Outings.

11
Strabane Community ProjectStaff

• ? SCP provides employment to 12 people from the
  local community.
• ? 4 Full Time Staff and 8 Part Time Staff
• ? SCP also provides work placement for people on
  the New Deal and Steps to Work Schemes.

12
Strabane Community ProjectRecent Achievement

• SCP have recently achieved the Volunteer
  Development Agencys Investing in Volunteer's'
  standard recognising the commitment to volunteers
  and their invaluable role in
• Strabane Community Project.
• One of only nine organisations in NI to achieve
  the standard.

13
Strabane Community ProjectVolunteers

• ? SCP have a team of 29 loyal volunteers who
  dedicate between 1 hour and 10 hours of their
  time each week.
• ? Without volunteers SCP would not be able to
  provide such a wide range of services for older
  people.
• ? Volunteers do not substitute the role of paid
  staff but add value to their work and to the
  provision of high quality services for older
  people.
• ? One of our volunteers received the award of
  North West Volunteer of the Year for Work with
  Older People for his dedication and contribution
  of 21 years service to the Project.

14
Strabane Community ProjectFunding

• In the current economic climate funding
  continues to be a key issue. Continuously
  sourcing funding, with often arduous application
  forms.
• Current funders include
• Strabane District Council
• CDHNBCPP
• WHSCT
• DEL
• Help the Aged
• Age Concern-Ageing Well Reach
• Lloyds TSB Foundation for NI

15
Strabane Community Project (SCP)Our Vision

• Between 2008-2011 SCP will provide
• Appropriate
• High quality
• Effective
• Accessible
• Innovative services projects and programmes
• To continuously improve the quality of life
  experience for older,vulnerable,disabled people
  in the Strabane District Council area.

16
Strabane Community Project

• Not just doing things for older people, but
  enabling and empowering older people to do things
  for themselves.
• SCP making a real difference in
• the lives of older people in the North West.
• Adding life to years and years to life