Changing Gears

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Do you want to find out more about yourself and reflect on your skills and experiences? Take stock of what’s out there for you and plan your next steps? Find out how some people bounce back from tough times – and learn from their experiences.

What is Changing Gears?

Changing Gears is a course which supports people in dealing with transitions or significant life-challenges in mid to later life. It focuses on how we can build resilience, take stock, make changes, and bounce forward in life.

How does it work?

Changing Gears offers participants 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 invites 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.

“I found Changing Gears very useful. It was very useful to look back at what has served me well and to make a plan, as far as is possible, for the next part of my life.”

Kathleen Jordan, Dublin. Changing Gears participant, online, February 2023

“The course content from beginning to end was very relevant. The different aspects of the course were so gently put. We came away totally satisfied at having participated and we gained so much information on what’s out there for us both nationally and locally.”

Kay Murphy, Ennis, Co Clare. Changing Gears participant, in-person, March 2023

How can I get involved?

This is a five session online or in-person course, usually delivered over five half-days once a week.

Course Content:

Session 1 & 2: Life Transitions (Up to Now)

Session 3 & 4: Building Resilience (Here and Now)

Session 5: Mapping the future (Where to from Here)

If you or your organisation would like more details, please contact us.

Contact

For information speak to Fiona Holohan in our Engage team.
01 805 7798
engage@ageandopportunity.ie

Engage Initiatives:

AgeWise Workshops

Professionally facilitated workshops for employers and staff who are providing services to older people. These workshops are designed to create awareness of attitudes to ageing and older people. Find out more here.

Get Engaged

An eight week (over eight half days) training course – for people aged 50+ , designed to help make a difference within local organisations including skills on lobbying, research and working with the media. Find out more here.

Ageing with Confidence

Six week course (over six half days) – for older people in local communities – designed to increase confidence, encourage reflection and share experiences. Find out more here.

Creative Exchanges

Training course for participants to plan and facilitate arts activities for older people in care settings. Find out more here.

Changing Gears

A five week course for people in mid-career or anticipating retirement. Changing Gears is about building resilience, taking stock, making changes, bouncing back and moving on in life. Find out more here.

Bespoke Training

Bespoke training, advice and mentoring in the areas of arts, physical activity, active citizenship and lifelong learning. We can tailor a programme to your/your organisation’s needs. Find out more here.

Azure

Azure explores how people with dementia-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s, and the people who care for them, can have a deeper involvement in cultural institutions and can participate in cultural activities. Find out more here.

Spirituality

Our five week, online Spirituality course invites participants to explore spirituality from the perspective of their life experience using art, music, poetry and story. Find out more here.