Our Jigsaw Support team organised a celebration to mark the success of the three-year long Ageing in Place Pathfinder at Ridge Hill in Stalybridge.
Tameside councillors Adrian Pearce, Christine Emily Beardmore, Jackie Lane and John Taylor joined colleagues, partners and residents at the community hub in Ridge Hill, to celebrate these achievements and plan for the future, as part of the International Day of Older People.
The Ageing in Place Pathfinder was set up by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to make sure the voices of older people are heard and valued in the places they live.
Over the past three years, the project has brought together our partners including The Big Local, Action Together, TMBC Population Health along with local residents, to create lasting change for the health and wellbeing of older people and the wider community.
Some of the standout achievements from the project include the formation of Ridgehill Together CIO, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation established to sustain and build on the work of Ageing in Place and the Big Local, ensuring the community’s voice and needs remain at the heart of future developments.
The project has also pioneered community healthcare initiatives, including the training of six Health Care Champions, thanks to a £10,000 award from the GMCA’s Live Well programme, and ran a community bike repair scheme.
Ridgehill Together CIO will now take forward this legacy, with ongoing support from partners such as the Jigsaw Foundation, GMCA, and local voluntary groups.
Executive Member for Adult Social Care Cllr John Taylor said: ‘’It’s incredible to see the positive difference Ageing in Place Pathfinder has made in Ridge Hill in just three years. By working in partnership with residents and as organisations, we can truly make a difference in our communities. This project is a powerful example of creating strong and connected communities, where people are supported to live long, healthy and fulfilled lives in the place they call home.’’
Christine, Ridge Hill resident and volunteer, said: “There’s no need for people to sit at home bored. Our hub door is always open for a cup of tea and a slice of toast. It’s a great, welcoming place to come.”
Phil Brooke, Jigsaw Support’s Ageing in Place Community Engagement Worker, said: “We are proud of what has been achieved together. The partnerships, projects, and new organisation we have built will ensure Ridge Hill continues to thrive as a place where people of all ages can live well and age well.
“It was really fitting that this year’s theme for International Day of Older People was ‘Celebrating the Power of Our Social Connections’ as this perfectly reflected the spirit of the Ageing in Place initiative and the community’s commitment to building a more connected, healthy, inclusive Ridge Hill.”
