EngAGE eNewsletter February / March 2012

• The Engage Ideas Forum: An Aisling for our Age
• Bealtaine 2012 Conference – Creating a New Old
• European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations launch
• New Active Citizenship Course
• Stories from the programmes: Ageing with Confidence

The Engage Ideas Forum: An Aisling for our Age

We invite you to the second Age & Opportunity EngAge ideas forum on 21 February at 6.30pm in the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin. The theme of the discussion is ‘An Aisling for our Age: Dreaming of a Better Future’ and was inspired by President Michael D. Higgins’ declaration in his inaugural speech that “Every age, after all, must have its own Aisling and dream of a better, kinder, happier, shared world”.

Award-winning journalist and broadcaster Rachael English will chair the evening which will be a mix of lively discussion and new perspectives, all presented through talks and video. The contributors to the discussion include Roisin Boyd, journalist, television and radio producer; Eamon Morrissey, actor and writer; Helena Sheehan, writer and Professor Emerita, DCU Communications Department; Jim Lockhart, member of Horslips and senior producer in RTÉ radio; and Newstalk Breakfast presenter Chris Donoghue.  Dr Lindsey Earner-Byrne, History lecturer in UCD will discuss where we’ve come to since 1922 through the prism of how we care, and what that could mean as we head into the future. 

EngAge is a free but ticketed event. It was sold out last year so to reserve your tickets (limited to two tickets per person), please contact Marianna Cullen on 01 805 7709 or email marianna.cullen@ageandopportunity.ie.

Bealtaine 2012 Conference – Creating a New Old

On 8-10 May, Bealtaine will run “Creating a New Old” in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin. The conference will bring together some of the biggest international experts in the area of creative ageing. Delegates will discuss the transformative effect of the arts on ageing and how society itself can be transformed by creative ageing.

The key speakers include: Susan Langford MBE, founder and director of the UK’s Magic Me intergenerational arts project; Liz Lerman, choreographer, performer, writer and educator; François Matarasso, writer, researcher and consultant interested in community cultural projects; and Susan Perlstein, founder and director of Special Projects for the National Centre for Creative Aging in Washington, DC.

It will be part of a series of events to celebrate the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations.

Find out more about the Bealtaine Conference

“Creating a New Old” is supported by Age & Opportunity, The Baring Foundation; Fáilte Ireland and the Office of Public Works. The Bealtaine Festival is supported by the Arts Council

European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations launch

This is the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. It was officially launched at the EU conference "Stay active - what does it take?" on 18 January in Copenhagen.

The main objectives of the European Year are to:

• raise general awareness of the value of active ageing
• stimulate a debate and develop mutual learning between Member States and stakeholders at all levels
• encourage and support policymakers and stakeholders to promote active ageing

A wide range of activities are planned at European, national and local level such as:

• conferences, events and initiatives to promote debate and raise awareness of the importance of active ageing
• information, promotion and educational campaigns
• exchange of information, experience and good practices
• research and surveys on a community or national scale

We will be involved in activities throughout the year and we look forward to the Irish launch on 9 February.

Find out more about EY2012

New Active Citizenship Course

Age & Opportunity is piloting a new course to help people to develop confidence and skills in contributing to, and working for, change in their communities. Research shows that few opportunities of this type are targeted at retired people – something that is illogical, given the potential resource to their communities that they represent. The course complements Age & Opportunity’s other education initiatives, offering the chance for a follow-on course, something participants often request at the end of courses like Ageing with Confidence. This course’s working title is On TRACk – Turning Retirement into Active Citizenship. It will be developed to reflect the needs and experiences of those taking part who can shape its content.

This course is being developed with CAN (Community Action Network), and is being piloted with eight partners across the country: Clare Local Development, Artane Coolock Resource and Development Centre, Dun Laoghaire VEC, FORUM Connemara (with the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, NUI Galway), Kildare VEC, Longford Community Resources, Waterford City VEC, Wexford Local Development.

Stories from the programmes: Ageing with Confidence

Imelda Sprague recently took part in Ageing with Confidence, Age & Opportunity’s self-development course. She attended the course in An Cosán, Tallaght. Here’s what Imelda had to say about it:

“Although I consider myself to be a confident person and have been involved in other courses, I found Ageing with Confidence to be of great benefit. It allowed me to mix with other older people in a safe and sharing environment. I thought the two tutors were brilliant and really liked the comfort of An Cosán.”

She believes that by sharing their experiences throughout the course, she and the other participants got a better understanding of the physical, mental and social issues that older people deal with on a daily basis. Even what seem like small things made a difference; for example, in recent years, Imelda has been waking up several times in the night and discovered that many of the others in the group experienced the same things and that this was common for people as they age. 

“I felt that we all formed a bond and I met some lovely people who I hope will be lifelong friends” says Imelda and adds that, for those feeling lonely and isolated, this course can help them to “get out and get involved by opening up new opportunities”.

“My mother had nothing like this in her day so I think I am very lucky to be able to do this”. When asked if she’d recommend the course, Imelda said “Absolutely, I would certainly urge anyone to take part and, for myself, I hope that there’s a follow-up course very soon”.