Age Unlimited Scotland

Our society has an ageing population, and we are facing the implications that this brings.

In Scotland, as in the majority of European countries, the Registrar General predicts that the numbers of older people in Scotland will rise considerably between 2006 and 2031. This brings many associated issues - income generation beyond 'retirement' or redundancy and being seen as a valued member of society post-retirement.

Some people facing retirement or redundancy can liken the experience to facing a cliff edge, unsure what they will do next. Individuals, who are used to being busy, find it difficult to fill their time and can find this period quite isolating.

Life doesn't end at retirement

We know that life doesn’t end at pension age; nor do the knowledge, experience and skills that people have. This time should be an opportunity to try something new, to learn new things or to give something back.

An ageing society coupled with the current economic challenges means that Scotland will be a very different place in future. Cuts facing our public services will impact on our local communities; however there is now a huge opportunity for the baby boomer generation to lead the way in developing new, sustainable community based projects for Scotland’s future!

Many communities are already bucking the trend and running low cost innovative services which empower and support their communities. These include local gardening initiatives; creating projects which link up the generations; community safety initiatives; helping local people to stay active and healthy; local transport solutions and cultural and local heritage activities.

NESTA's response to this challenge

As a response to these economic and society challenges, NESTA wants to work with people in their 50s and 60s in Scotland who have great ideas that can improve their community over a two year pilot programme. We are focused on the opportunity that people in their 50s and 60s have, with our support, to develop and deliver their good ideas to improve communities in Scotland.

Last year we supported 15 people in their 50s and 60s with training, support and small grants to help turn their ideas into working ventures. The programme was aimed at people developing new services which tackled the issue of social isolation in people in their later years. These ventures are great examples of how practical ideas developed by everyday people can support the very old, and tackle Scotland’s biggest challenges. You can read more about some of the ideas in our Age Unlimited Scotland Case Studies (PDF 678Kb).

Who are we looking for?

We know that people in their 50s and 60s have a wealth of knowledge, valuable experiences and can recognise what is best for their local community. That’s why we are looking for small teams or individuals with good ideas which have the potential to improve their communities.

You may be motivated to get involved in a socially good idea to:

• Improve your neighbourhood for your children or grandchildren
• Encourage your community to connect together
• Give something back or share your expertise with others
• Stay healthy and active by getting involved with new experiences and activities
• Earn an income for yourself from a new socially motivated enterprise
• Give yourself a new challenge.

You don’t have to have a fully formed idea, we are simply looking for you to apply with an initial good idea for a new locally run service, which can:

• Be scaled and replicated in other areas of Scotland
• Save the public purse by offering services that are more cost-effective, or for which clients would be willing to pay a small amount
• Are genuinely innovative and do not duplicate what is already in the community.

Our selection of participants will be based on the below criteria – it can be difficult getting a new idea off the ground, so please do consider if having a small team around you would be useful!

1.    An innovative team or individual who can drive forward the idea
2.    An innovative idea, which encourages community cohesion, through providing opportunities for the local community
3.    An idea which is developed and delivered by people in their fifties and sixties and involves local people in the design, development and delivery of the idea in innovative ways
4.    Ideas that have the potential to generate significant social and economic impact
5.    Ideas that are feasible, scalable and can be replicated
6.    Small teams or an individual committed to making people’s lives more fulfilled, healthy and socially inclusive.

Short-listed candidates will be invited to a one day workshop in February which will be an opportunity to meet like-minded people, refine your idea and work out the next steps to make it live. We promise a fun, interesting and friendly day and will reimburse you with up to £25 to cover your travel expenses. You will also have the chance to have a chat with a member of the NESTA team; from this day successful applicants will be awarded a place on our intensive programme.

We have capacity to take up to 20 venture ideas on to the 2011 programme.

What support will we give you?

Age Unlimited Scotland is a full programme of support and training to develop both you and your idea. This will be hard work and will require your dedication and commitment, but we will provide you with the valuable steps of support you will need as a new social entrepreneur.

There is the potential of gaining up to £10,000 innovation grant funding* on completion of the programme, however we know from experience that participants benefit far greater from the intensive development support, confidence building and networks gained whilst taking part in the programme.

*Please note that our grant funding is aimed at developing new services, we cannot fund building acquisitions or capital investments.

Between March and June 2011 we will give up to 20 selected ventures:

Workshops

Five days of group training in enterprise; marketing; finance; presentation skills - the business skills you will need to make your venture robust. These workshops will give you an opportunity to meet like-minded people, to refine your idea and work out the next steps to make it live. These sessions are interesting and informal, bringing experts in to challenge and develop your idea; giving you the chance to create an operational plan and financials - turning your idea into action. You must be able to commit the time – 1 day every 2-3 weeks plus additional time to develop and test your idea.

Mentoring

A mentor with relevant skills and expertise will help in the development of your venture, acting as a critical friend and ally. Your mentor will meet you on a one to one basis throughout the duration of the programme.

Presentation

On completion of the full programme you have the opportunity to present your venture to an expert panel to gain up to £10,000 of grant funding to test and prove your concept in the community. All innovation grant funding is awarded on a competitive basis.

Aftercare support

To make sure that you are fully supported after the programme is finished, we will provide one-to-one monthly sessions with a social enterprise business adviser.

Applications for Age Unlimited Scotland 2011 are now closed

If you have any questions, please contact us on: 01382 229521 or email us at: ageunlimitedscotland@nesta.org.uk

Important dates

Applications Open: 27 October 2010
Application Deadline: 7 February 2011, midnight

Initial workshops

Applicants selected to attend an initial workshop will be notified by: 16 February 2011.

Local workshops held in cities across Scotland on the following dates:

• Aberdeen – Wednesday 23 February 2011
• Inverness – Thursday 24 February 2011
• Edinburgh – Friday 25 February 2011
• Dundee – Saturday 26 February 2011
• Glasgow – Monday 28 February 2011

Applicants will be notified of outcome of application by: 2 March 2011.

Programme workshops

• Training session 1    Saturday 12 March 2011
• Training session 2    Saturday 2 April 2011
• Training session 3    Saturday 16 April 2011
• Training session 4    Saturday 7 May 2011
• Training session 5    Saturday 21 May 2011

Grant funding panel

Opportunity for participants to pitch for funding on completion of programme, for up to £10,000 awarded on a competitive basis: June 2011.

Aftercare support

Monthly one-to-one support sessions to ensure venture is supported and sustainable: July 2011 – December 2011.

If you have any queries, please email ageunlimitedscotland@nesta.org.uk