Age & Opportunity is delighted to be offering Changing Gears in Cork for free this April and May. Designed to boost wellbeing and resilience, it is a five-session in-person course funded by the HSE that focuses on managing transitions in mid to later life.
Changing Gears offers participants (aged 50+) time to:
Develop skills and techniques to build resilience and confidence in managing life-changes or transitions.
Reframe transitions in their lives as opportunities with positive options, challenging negative stereotypes about ageing.
The programme allows participants to reflect on challenges they have experienced in the past and life-lessons they have learned. In this way strategies for building resilience and managing change draw on personal experience to create a more positive and fulfilling future.
Sessions cover: Life Transitions (Up to Now); Building Resilience (Here and Now); and Mapping the future (Where to from Here).
Venue: The Metropole, Cork Dates: Thursdays 27 April and 4, 11, 18 & 25 May 2023
Times: 11 am – 1.00 pm
Please note that this programme has been funded by the HSE and is free of charge. Participation requires attendance at each of the five sessions (please do not book a place if you cannot attend on these dates).
Bookings will be made on a first come first served basis.
Brigid film by older people from the North West with artist Marie Brett launches on 1st February
A new film created by older people from Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Monaghan and Sligo, with artist Marie Brett, launches today. ‘Brigid, Our Spirit Stirring’ captures the creative outputs of an Age & Opportunity art project carried out in these six counties in partnership with Age Friendly Ireland and funded by the Creative Ireland Programme.
The project explored past and future views of Brigid and her transformative relationship to the Irish people. Participants worked with Marie in a series of craft and poetry workshops. They produced hand-crafted artefacts such as Brigid-style crosses, protective God’s eyes, masks, hats and Brídeóga. These were brought together for a final pageant event held at the National Museum of Ireland, Country Life, in Mayo. Participants paraded their creations in a procession inspired by traditional ritual and holy pilgrimage.
‘Brigid, Our Spirit Stirring’ was filmed at the pageant event.
The film is being launch at W8 Centre, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim on Brigid’s Day, 1st February at 12 noon. Creators and performers from the six counties who feature in the film will attend. They will once again create Brigid’s crosses and make Brídeóga dolls, this time with Helena Golden, the ‘Willow Woman’, from Leitrim. Attendees will step through the Brigid’s Girdle while saying a personal prayer for protection during the year ahead.
Karen Horgan, CEO Age & Opportunity, said: “This project has connected older people from the North West in a uniquely creative and celebratory way around the theme of Brigid, both Goddess and Saint. As an organisation that aims to enable the best quality of life for us all as we age, where we can be more active, more visible, more creative, more connected and more confident, we are delighted to have worked in partnership with Age Friendly Ireland and artist Marie Brett.”
Lead artist Marie Brett said: “It was such an enriching, creative experience to make this work, with so much elder knowledge. Together we combined pilgrimage tradition, Biddy Boys (which we’ve re-named Biddy-Girls) and Brídeóg custom, with thinking surrounding natural world learning, Celtic pathways, and elemental forces.
“‘Brigid, Our Spirit Stirring’ is a digital fusion of a contemporary live event that reimagines collective and cross-generational folk custom. I loved creating this work; the contributors created beautiful, evocative poems and gorgeous processional artefacts.”
Mairead Cranley, Age Friendly North Regional Manager, said: “Following consultations with older people in the North Region, we knew they wanted to explore traditions associated with St Brigid. This project was creative, colourful, and everyone got active. Age Friendly Ireland are always looking at ways to enhance the lives of older people and improve their quality of life. Participating in creative projects like this will be of huge benefit to them.”
Feedback from project participants included the following comments:
“I didn’t know I’d be able for making such lovely things.”
“The materials are lovely.” [straw was one of the main materials used]
“It was lovely to see new place and to meet new people.”
The project came about due to funding provided by Creative Ireland to Age Friendly Ireland for the delivery of regional creative initiatives for older people in the context of supporting health and wellbeing. Following a call for proposals, Age & Opportunity’s proposal with artist Marie Brett was selected for the North Region.
Age Friendly Ireland is a shared service hosted by Meath County Council that delivers the national Age Friendly Programme. A core component of the programme is an Older People’s Council in each local authority representing the voice of older people to inform policy development and service provision for the ageing population. https://agefriendlyireland.ie/
Marie Brett is a freelance visual artist with extensive experience of initiating and leading participatory projects, with considerable knowledge of arts and ageing contexts. Her work is held in National Collections including The Irish Museum of Modern Art. She works nationally and is based in West Cork. ‘Brigid, Our Spirit Stirring’ benefits from a project Marie founded in 2019 called ‘Cultural Lore’ which actively celebrates modern-day folk custom and folkloric traditions, linking Irish and global research, folk activity and distinctive art making contribution. https://www.mariebrett.ie/
Arcade is the film making company of Dan Keane and Kilian Waters. They create films, documentaries and video design, working nationally from their base in Dublin. https://www.arcade.film/
Creative Ireland Programme
Creative Ireland is a five-year Programme which connects people, creativity and wellbeing. It is an all-of-government culture and wellbeing programme that inspires and transforms people, places and communities through creativity. https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/
Changing Gears Course Online – Book your place now!
Age & Opportunity is delighted to be offering Changing Gears online this February and March. Designed to boost wellbeing and resilience, it is a four session course funded by the HSE that focuses on managing transitions in mid to later life.
Changing Gears offers participants (aged 50+) time to:
Develop skills and techniques to build resilience and confidence in managing life-changes or transitions.
Reframe transitions in their lives as opportunities with positive options, challenging negative stereotypes about ageing.
The programme allows participants to reflect on challenges they have experienced in the past and life-lessons they have learned. In this way strategies for building resilience and managing change draw on personal experience to create a more positive and fulfilling future.
Sessions cover: Life Transitions (Up to Now); Building Resilience (Here and Now); and Mapping the future (Where to from Here).
Via Zoom Dates: Mondays 13, 20, 27 February and 6 March 2023
Times: 11.00 am – 1.00 pm with a short comfort break.
To book your place on this programme, please e-mail Fiona at engage@ageandopportunity.ie and provide your postal address so handouts can be posted out to you prior to the course commencement date of 13 February 2023.
Please note that this programme has been funded by the HSE and is free of charge. Participation requires attendance at each of the four sessions (please do not book a place if you cannot attend on these dates).
Bookings will be made on a first come first served basis.
Changing Gears Course Ennis & Dublin – Book your place now
Age & Opportunity is delighted to be offering Changing Gears in Ennis, Co. Clare and Dublin this February and March. Designed to boost wellbeing and resilience, it is a five-session in-person course funded by the HSE that focuses on managing transitions in mid to later life.
Changing Gears offers participants (aged 50+) time to:
Develop skills and techniques to build resilience and confidence in managing life-changes or transitions.
Reframe transitions in their lives as opportunities with positive options, challenging negative stereotypes about ageing.
The programme allows participants to reflect on challenges they have experienced in the past and life-lessons they have learned. In this way strategies for building resilience and managing change draw on personal experience to create a more positive and fulfilling future.
Sessions cover: Life Transitions (Up to Now); Building Resilience (Here and Now); and Mapping the future (Where to from Here).
Venue: The Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Co. Clare Dates: Fridays 3, 10, 17, 24 February and 3 March 2023
Times: 11 am – 1.00 pm
Venue: The Ashling Hotel, Dublin
Dates: Thursdays 2, 9, 16, 23 February and 2 March 2023
Times: 10.30 am – 1.00 pm.
Please note that this programme has been funded by the HSE and is free of charge. Participation requires attendance at each of the five sessions (please do not book a place if you cannot attend on these dates).
Bookings will be made on a first come first served basis.
Older people and migrants of all ages engage in EU project
Older citizens and migrants to the European Union want to be involved and contribute to community life with their diverse skills, ideas and lived experiences. This is the main message to emerge from a participative project carried out with older people living in Ireland, Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Spain, and migrants of all ages from China, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Morocco, the Caribbean, Surinam and Somalia.
They were brought together by four organisations who work with older people in Ireland, Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Spain, as part of the Get Engaged for Europe project, funded by the Europe for Citizens programme.
The project began with the Irish partner organisation, Age & Opportunity, developing a train the trainer course to share their expertise and knowledge in training for civic engagement among older people. Having completed this training the other partners Bulgarian Red Cross, Gouden Dagen in the Netherlands and Fundacion Albihar in Spain, set about engaging older people of all cultures and reaching out to younger migrants in their communities.
Spain
Trainer Irene Santiago Trabado works with course participants to design a tourist route around Granada.
Forty people took part in the workshops facilitated by Fundación Albihar, including three people who had recently arrived in Granada: Yadima Morales and Livays Alvarado from Cuba, and Edith López from Bolivia. Until they participated in Get Engaged for Europe they struggled to make social connections in the city. Along with other migrants from Latin America they joined with Spanish citizens to explore subjects such as citizen participation, ageing and discrimination. Together they came up with a group activity to encourage integration – the creation of an intercultural and intergenerational tourist route through the historic city centre which they called ‘Walking among Granada’. They walked it together on the last day of the course. Yadima, Livays and Edith, in particular, felt useful in their roles of co-designers of the route, and thus more integrated in the city. The friendships they made on the course continue.
The Netherlands
Chinese migrants in the Netherlands eat together as part of Get Engaged for Europe partner Gouden Dagen’s series of events
Get Engaged for Europe partner Gouden Dagen organised a series of gatherings in Utrecht and Rotterdam with older migrants from Turkey, Morocco, China and the Caribbean, including Surinam. Over 50 participants in total came together to enjoy a communal meal and to discuss the positives and negatives of their lives in the Netherlands. Through discussion they came to realise that they had much in common, with their needs being shared needs. While they tried to focus on the positives of both their culture and Dutch culture they had shared challenges. These include the fact that private Dutch homes are not designed to cater for extended family living, linguistic barriers, struggles with digital technology and the lack of meeting points to gather for chat, cooking and vegetable growing. Loneliness, poverty and discrimination, especially for old women wearing headscarves, are prevalent as is a sense of isolation.
However older migrants are generally happy about the possibilities, freedom, and tolerance in the Netherlands. They are curious about the European Union and keen to learn about it and to learn new skills. The lack of educational courses and supports in their mother tongues were identified as a key barrier to integration.
Bulgaria
Migrants and Bulgarians from the municipality of Harmanli in the Hasskovo region on a trip to a local archaeological site, Mezzek. Harmanli hosts the largest refugee camp in Bulgaria.
Trainers from the Bulgarian Red Cross facilitated four events with 60 older people from Bulgaria and migrants both young and old from Syria, Iraq and Palestine.
Based on evaluation forms provided in Bulgarian, Arabic, English and Farsi, participants said they benefitted from the trainings through meeting new people and changing their perspective on ageing. They felt motivated and believed more in themselves. They also said they would implement a community project together.
One training brought together refugees and Bulgarians in the municipality of Harmanli in the Hasskovo region, where the largest refugee camp in Bulgaria is found. The first three days consisted of workshops with presentations and group work. On the final day all participants joined on a trip to a local archaeological site, Mezzek. They had an opportunity to exchange views on the trainings and to discuss the ideas that both groups had for future civil engagement projects and initiatives. They shared their different cultures with discussions about art, history and food.
Ireland
Almost 60 mostly older Irish people joined active citizenship workshops run by Age & Opportunity in four locations. They focussed on exploring positive ageing, team-building, collaboration, and selecting, planning and designing a project which could be piloted in their local community.
In Dublin eight people of different ages from Ireland and Somalia came together for four sessions, focussing on team building and exploring what they could change in their community. They decided to set up a project entitled ‘Building Bridges’ aimed at better multicultural integration and understanding. Together they discussed the similarities and differences between Ireland and Somalia in terms of culture, food, society, politics, democracy and voting systems, as well as sharing some Irish and Somalian snacks.
A number of proposals came out of the group’s time together including an idea to start a regular board-gaming hour as a way of bringing people together. Perhaps the most tangible outcome of the workshops was that one Somalian woman’s wish for a sewing machine came true. A staff member at the centre had one lying idle in their attic and was happy to donate it. Her plan is to help young Somalian women to repair their and their children’s clothes whilst chatting and telling them about English classes and other services that are available.
Civic engagement benefits us all
The diverse collaborative and participative work of Get Engage for Europe partners with older people from Bulgaria, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain and with migrants of all ages from many countries demonstrates clearly that active civic engagement by older people of all cultures benefits us all. In the words of one participant from Bulgaria: “Older people should not stop dreaming.”
Get Engaged/Touchstone for Europe was funded by the Europe for Citizens programme.
For more detailed information about the project please see here.
Age & Opportunity’s Changing Gears course, which focuses on managing transitions in mid to later life, is being offered for free this November in Galway & Athlone.
Designed to build well being and resilience, it is a four-session in-person course funded by the HSE.
Changing Gears offers participants (aged 50+) time to:
Develop skills and techniques to build resilience and confidence in managing life-changes or transitions.
Reframe transitions in their lives as opportunities with positive options, challenging negative stereotypes about ageing.
The programme allows participants an opportunity to reflect on challenges they have experienced in the past and life lessons they have learned. In this way strategies for building resilience and managing change draw on personal experience to create a more positive and fulfilling future.
Venue: Radisson Blu, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Dates: Mondays 14, 21, 28 November and 5 December
Times: 11.00 am – 1.00 pm.
Venue: The Connacht Hotel, Galway
Dates: Thursdays and Fridays 24, 25 November and 1, 2 December 2022
Times: 11 am – 1pm.
Please contact Fiona at engage@ageandopportunity.ie to book your place.
Please note that participation requires attendance at each of the four sessions. Please do not book a place if you cannot attend on all dates.
This programme is funded by the HSE and is free of charge.
Bookings will be made on a first come first served basis.
Age & Opportunity’s Changing Gears course, which focuses on managing transitions in mid to later life, is being offered for free this November in Cork, Athlone, Galway and Carrick-on-Shannon.
Designed to build well being and resilience, it is a four-session in-person course funded by the HSE.
Changing Gears offers participants (aged 50+) time to:
Develop skills and techniques to build resilience and confidence in managing life-changes or transitions.
Reframe transitions in their lives as opportunities with positive options, challenging negative stereotypes about ageing.
The programme allows participants an opportunity to reflect on challenges they have experienced in the past and life lessons they have learned. In this way strategies for building resilience and managing change draw on personal experience to create a more positive and fulfilling future.
Sessions cover: Life Transitions (Up to Now), Building Resilience (Here and Now) and Mapping the future (Where to from Here).
Venue: The Metropole, Cork Dates: Wednesdays 9, 16, 23, 30 November
Times: 11.00 am – 1.00 pm
Venue: Radisson Blu, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Dates: Mondays 14, 21, 28 November & 5 December
Times: 11.00 am – 1.00 pm.
Venue: The Connacht Hotel, Galway
Dates: Thursdays and Fridays 24, 25 November and 1, 2 December 2022
Times: 11 am – 1pm.
Venue: The Landmark Hotel, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim Dates:Wednesdays & Thursdays 23, 24, 30 November & 1 December
Times: 3.00 – 5.00 pm.
Changing Gears is a programme which is designed to help people who are 50+ to manage health challenges. It promotes resilience in later life, facilitating participants to be more self-directive in making life style choices to optimise older age.
Changing Gears is a 6-session course that offers participants time to think about the health challenges they face and steps they can take to manage them better; develop skills which build confidence for the future; reimagine ageing as a time of hope with positive opportunities.
The course is set up so participants can use life lessons from past experiences as well as current strengths, abilities and resources, to manage health issues more positively in the future.
Age & Opportunity is the national organisation that provides a range of opportunities for older people who want to get more involved in arts and culture, sport and physical activity, civic engagement and personal development. Our aim is to inspire people aged 50+ to be more active, more visible, more creative and more connected.
Age & Opportunity has secured funding from the Sláintecare Integration Fund to deliver Changing Gears to people with health challenges.
The main goal of this project is to implement a positive intervention for people who are 50+, especially vulnerable older people, resulting in better management of their health conditions.
The programme will be delivered via Zoom. To book your place on the programme, please contact Fiona Holohan, Engage Programme Co-ordinator, Age & Opportunity at engage@ageandopportunity.ie
Dates: Tuesdays 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd February and 2nd and 9th March 2021 Time: 2.00 – 4.00 pm
Changing Gears online – help for those aged 50+ to manage health challenges
We’re inviting people to take part in , an online programme designed to help people who are 50+ to manage health challenges. The programme promotes resilience in later life, facilitating participants to be more self-directive in making life style choices to optimise older age.
Due to funding conditions the programme is strictly for those aged 50+ experiencing health challenges. Please note there is no charge for the programme as we have secured funding from the Sláintecare Integration Fund to deliver Changing Gears.
It will be delivered via Zoom. To book your place on one of the four week programmes below, please contact Fiona Holohan, our Engage Programme Co-ordinator, at engage@ageandopportunity.ie clearly stating what dates you wish to attend.
Programme 1 (via Zoom)
Tuesdays 24th November, 1st 8th and 15th December
2.00 – 4.00pm
Programme 2 (via Zoom)
Wednesdays 25th November, 2nd, 9th and 16th December
2.00 – 4.00 pm
Programme 3 (via Zoom)
Thursdays 26th November, 3rd, 10th and 17th December
2.00 – 4.00 pm
Age & Opportunity’s Resilience Series – Audience Survey
We have created a series of videos that look at resilience – what it means and how to build it. It reminds us of the resources we have at our disposal, the ‘something inside so strong’ that sustains and keeps us connected.
If you have viewed any of Age & Opportunity’s video series on Resilience, we would really appreciate your feedback! Follow the link below to complete our short survey:
Get Engaged/Touchstone for Europe was funded by the Europe for Citizens programme.
