Get Engaged
Help make your community age-friendly
What is Get Engaged?
Get Engaged is a national course aimed at developing the skills and knowledge of people aged 50 and over who wish to play a part in helping to make their communities more age-friendly.
How does it work?
This free course runs over eight weeks and is designed to help participants make a difference within local community organisations by teaching them skills on lobbying, research and working with the media. No previous experience or qualifications are required.
The Get Engaged initiative recognises that older adults are self-directed learners, who expect participant-led discussion and opportunities to identify for themselves the issues related to ageing and civic engagement. The programme design respects and mobilises the past experiences of participants, and develops the knowledge and skills by which they can address these issues. Whilst it encourages individual learning and critical reflection, it can also lead to collective social and political action.
Get Engaged is attractive to people:
- wishing to bring about change particularly in the local community;
- wishing to give something back
- wanting to improve the community for future generations;
- with personal experience which has heightened an awareness of what needs to change;
- attempting to become more integrated as a newcomer into the community; and,
- feeling a sense of achievement and belonging from involvement in Civic Engagement activities.
For groups such as Older People’s Councils, local leadership groups in NGOs, participants in Public Policy Networks (PPNs) and other forums for consultation, Get Engaged offers an ideal opportunity to become more aware of how to bring about change and to work effectively with partners in the statutory agencies and the private sector for the good of the community.
The course is delivered as 8 half days over 8 weeks
How can I get involved?
We will be updating our list of courses soon, so keep up to date by signing up to our email newsletter or give us a call to register your interest in this course.
Contact
For information speak to Fiona Holohan in our Engage team.
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.
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.
People with intellectual disability Physical Activity Leaders
Enabling people with intellectual disability (ID) to become physical activity leaders. Find out more here.
Engage Initiatives:
AgeWise Workshops
An education and peer leadership initiative which trains older people how to lead sport and activity sessions in their local groups and communities. 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.
Aging 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.
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.
People with intellectual disability Physical Activity Leaders
Enabling people with intellectual disability (ID) to become physical activity leaders. Find out more here.
Learning, education and engaging with your local community offers a number of benefits including
- happiness and empowerment
- mental wellbeing
- increased self-awareness and expression
- development of new skills and interests
- providing a sense of self control
- social connection
- reduced depression and anxiety
- reduced stress levels
- improved cognition
- sense of identity and personhood
- increased self-esteem and confidence
