Jigsaw Support brought together local organisations, services and residents for a community event in Tameside to celebrate ‘International Day of Older People.’
Held at Stalybridge Civic Hall and supported by Tameside Council, the ‘What’s on Your Doorstep’ event showcased the wide range of services available to older people across the borough.
The services each aimed to help tackle social isolation, strengthen community connections and provide an enjoyable afternoon of activities and networking.
They included Age UK, PC Refurb, Older Persons Network, Ridgehill Together, Active Tameside, Carers Centre, Be Well Tameside and Men in Sheds. Music was provided by Tameside Music Service, with the help of classes from St Paul’s C of E Primary School in Stalybridge.
This was all part of the Live Well in Later Life programme run by Jigsaw Support to support people aged over 50 in the Dukinfield, Stalybridge and Ridgehill wards of Tameside, helping them have a happier, healthier life as they grow older.
It forms part of Greater Manchester’s wider Live Well movement and Greater Manchester’s age-friendly strategy, where an investment of £4.8 million is being delivered across the region to help older people live well, stay connected, and thrive within their communities.
Phil Brooke, Jigsaw Support’s Community Engagement Worker said: “This year’s International Day of Older People theme of finding out ‘what’s on your doorstep’ was an excellent fit for our programme. We had a wide range of services and organisations at the event, and it was really well received by our attendees.”
One local resident said: “My husband passed away not long ago and since then I’ve been lonely. I came to find out about things I can get involved in. It’s been nice to talk to different people and find out what’s available.”
Donna Kelly, Group Director of Support and Neighbourhoods at Jigsaw Homes, said: “Our Live Well in Later Life project is aimed at creating opportunities for people to stay connected, active and independent as they get older. This event gave us the chance to connect with local people, community groups and organisations and help us build stronger, more age-friendly communities where everyone can live well in later life.”
