UTOPIA Project, Upper Andersonstown Community Forum
UTOPIA Project, Upper Andersonstown Community Forum
Upper Andersonstown Community Forum
Tullymore Community Centre
Belfast
BT11 8NE
United Kingdom
Opening Hours
Project Manager available for information 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.
A changing, varied programme of small size technology classes, creative learning, physical and social activities for the over 60s are scheduled at various times and days throughout the week at Tullymore Community Centre with regular outings, bus trips, cultural activities and outreach provision.
Sectors
Older people Health and wellbeing Education/trainingServices
ICT TrainingAudience
Older peopleUTOPIA project funded by the Big Lottery, offers Creative Learning and Social Activities to help reduce social isolation, improve the mental and physical health and build the confidence and community involvement of older people in the Andersonstown area.
UTOPIA Using Technology Older people in action
- Activities concentrate on introducing participants to the use of technology for communication, for seeking online information on benefits, health, family history research or simply for entertainment and fun, internet searching, email and Skype. There are also sessions on digital photography, digital storytelling to create an archive of older peoples stories, Art, Crafts and conversational Irish for beginners.
- In addition, activities also consist of a variety of physical indoor and outdoor activities designed to improve mental and physical health and to provide opportunities to socialise with peers and others in the community. Activities throughout the first two years of the project included: Chair-based Pilates, Tai Chi for health, Boccia and Curling, designed to be fully inclusive for those participants with limited mobility, Gardening and Walking Club. An intergenerational gardening project with 5 older members of the community working with staff and volunteers, with 5 children from the Summer Daycare project during Summer 2012 and 5 young people from Tullymore’s Alternative Education Project, worked on the preparation and maintenance of the small garden at Tullymore Centre which was entered and won the ‘Best Community Group’ category in Belfast in Bloom.
- Opportunities for socialising are also provided during all activities and classes and extra events such as Christmas Socials, St Patrick’s Day Events, Summer Scheme for the over 60s group, bus trips, theatre and concert outings throughout the whole year.
- Formal and informal feedback indicate that all participants believe that involvement in the project has met the expectations they had upon entry to the programme, particularly in terms of improving their social networks, their physical and mental health, learning new skills and having fun.
UTOPIA Project, Upper Andersonstown Community Forum's Content
More Information
Type of Organisation
VCSETeam
- Rose Nicholls