The Ageing Better conference saw the release of two learning reports taken from current learning from the 14 Ageing Better partnerships.

The first, which was also the theme of the first day of the Conference, was Community Connectors:. Ageing Better partnerships define Community Connector projects as:

“Any mechanism that works to identify isolated people over 50 and then works with them to help them transition from isolated to less isolated through person-centred structured support. This includes community navigators, social prescribing and approaches that involve people overcoming a specific barrier, for example, mental health”.

In Leeds we are fortunate to have a number of projects aimed at connecting isolated older people to community activities in a person-centred way. Our work has shown many benefits of this approach to the individual in terms of emotional wellbeing and feelings of isolation but has also highlighted the need for appropriated resources and the need for a longer-term approach.

The second learning report launched was the groups at risk of marginalisation and specifically highlights learning from specific groups including;

• -Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic
• -Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and other;
• -Carers;
• -Those living alone.

A link to both reports can be found: https://www.biglotteryfund.org…