Custom House: Older Residents Social Events

We would like to apply for a £5,000 grant to pay for materials, marketing and refreshments for a year of social events for older people in Custom House.

The activities, including digital inclusion, financial advice, social events, arts and crafts, and fitness classes, are supported by volunteers, informed by consultation with older people locally and attended by residents of the Ruscoe Road Sheltered Scheme and members of the local community.

These activities will support older people locally to fight social isolation; research suggests that having close ties to friends and family, and participating in meaningful social activities, may help people maintain their thinking skills better in later life and slow down cognitive decline.

This project will also support younger residents who are not in education, employment or training to develop critical skills, find purpose through volunteering and boost their confidence.

Our financial support projects will help people to alleviate poverty, making the most of later life. It's harder to participate in things they enjoy doing, as well as essential needs such as food, heating and medicine, whilst a person is living in poverty. Poverty can also make it hard for seniors to participate in social activities because they cannot pay for entertainment and transportation.

Our digital inclusion projects will support people to keep in touch with loved ones, stay safe online and up to date with local and national news. Our exercise classes will improve strength and balance, reducing the risk of injury from falls, while giving people more energy and reducing the risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.

Learning new skills through our creative arts and crafts projects will support people to explore their creativity, reducing their risk of dementia and improving their ability to handle challenges.