Ageing Well Challenge
What was the Ageing Well Challenge?
The Ageing Well Challenge looked for ideas to improve the lives of older people by reducing social isolation or increasing mobility. It was one of two Giving Challenges funded by the Home Office and designed and delivered by Challenge Works to stimulate social innovation in the giving of time, skills and resources to tackle two distinct social issues: reducing isolation of older people and reducing waste.
Why did we do this?
Our research shows life expectancies are increasing by an average of five hours a day, but innovation hasn’t kept up with this change. There’s a big gap between what really matters to older people’s health and wellbeing (things like: having meaningful connections with others, remaining independent, and having a sense of purpose through work or volunteering) and the priorities of existing services.
We need radical new approaches to cater for our ageing population, which make better use of the resources within communities, to help us all age better.
What happened?
- The Challenge launched in September 2012.
- 24 semi-finalists were supported to develop detailed plans.
- Five finalists were awarded funding of up to £10,000, as well as non-financial support, to set up and test their projects over a six-month period in 2013.
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This challenge prize was funded and delivered in partnership with
More than a prize
Impact of the Challenge
- Over 20 events were held which involved 120 older givers/volunteers participating in programme activities
- Over 600 other community members were directly involved in giving and other engagement opportunities
- Over 1,000 community beneficiaries
- £40,000 in additional funding was secured by the two finalists
- A £50,000 continuation grant was provided to the two two runners-up by the Pargiter Trust in partnership with Nesta.
Qualitative findings also demonstrated that
- Older people felt less isolated
- Beneficiaries improved their confidence; building friendships and a sense of pride in local community
- The challenge created a sense of belonging amongst beneficiaries, volunteers and givers
- Older people felt like part of a generation that still have an important role to play in the community.
Winner – NANA
A comfort food and community café run by older ladies from the local area. For older ladies it’s a chance to get out of the house, meet new people, and put their skills to good use, and for everyone else it’s a place to enjoy proper hearty home cooked food at a reasonable price.
The finalists
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Radio Club (Runner-up)
A weekly live radio show where up to 15 older people are the weekly contributors. The ‘call-in’ format has been developed to support older members of the community by allowing them to socialise live on air from the comfort of their home – chatting and sharing stories.
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Age UK Exeter, Tools Company
Part of Men in Sheds, Tools Company enables men to repair broken and old garden and trade tools to send to local UK charities and to Africa for business start-up schemes.
Using donated tools and volunteer buddies they give older men with complex needs a chance to reconnect with meaningful, practical activity.
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The After Work Club
A network to engage, inspire and connect men, to help redefine their retirement.
They are building a task force of retired men who use their skills to make positive changes in the wider community and by doing so reclaim a sense of personal value and purpose, reduce their risk of social isolation.
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Stonewall Housing, One Small Step
This project aims to make it easier for volunteers in London to help isolated, older LGBT people with small day-to-day tasks such as changing a light bulb or walking the dog.
They plan to create an app to help facilitate volunteering and connect people with those in their local area.
Who were the challenge judges?
- Halima Khan Nesta (Chair)
- Allison Smith Cabinet Office
- Almudena Lara Cabinet Office (first round)
- Emma Soames Saga Magazine
- Jade Belletty Cabinet Office
- John Coxon Department for Work and Pensions
- Kevin Waudby Good Innovation
- Mark Winwood AXA PPP healthcare
- Sam Haskell Department of Health
- Victoria Westhorp Pargiter Trust