14/12/2009
"Our rapidly ageing society is one of Scotland's biggest social challenges. It requires radical new approaches to avert a growing drain on already depleted public finances."
A new initiative aimed at involving people aged 50 and over in helping tackle the issue of social isolation in the elderly and improving public services across Scotland is being launched today by NESTA (14 December 2009).
With the population of Scotland predicted to age considerably between 2006 and 2031, and with the number of people over 60 expected to increase by 54% over this period, [i] the sheer volume of the country's ageing society is placing increasing demands on public services such as health and care services. As a generation, their expectations are also different. They want new, better and more personalised types of services, whilst also trying to remain active in the community.
NESTA recently undertook research which shows the UK is unprepared for the challenges of an ageing population. Just under a third of all pensioners live on or close to the poverty line and twelve million people - half the current UK workforce - are putting nothing aside for old age[ii]. Demographic patterns mean these trends are getting worse and the UK is failing to find new solutions, focusing instead on existing services and initiatives.
As a response to these challenges, NESTA (The National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts) is today launching a new programme - Age Unlimited in Scotland aimed at making ageing a more fulfilling healthy and socially inclusive experience. The two year pilot programme will stimulate latent entrepreneurial activity in the over fifties.
NESTA is looking for individuals to come forward with ideas on how to improve public services in their community for older people. A series of workshops will be held in March next year, where NESTA will select and build teams that will then pitch their idea to a judging panel, in order to make it through for further support and development. Participants can then go onto pitch for up to £10,000 in June to get the concept up and running in the community.
NESTA is also interested in hearing from people over 50 who believe they might have some skills or experience which would be of benefit to one of the teams. This might include a background in business, enterprise, education or people who have previously worked in the public services.
Jackie McKenzie, NESTA's head of innovation programmes in Scotland, comments: "Our rapidly ageing society is one of Scotland's biggest social challenges. It requires radical new approaches to avert a growing drain on already depleted public finances. We want to hear from local people, who often are the ones with the most radical, innovative ideas to improve services in their own local community to support older people."
"Age Unlimited wants to un-tap and support innovative ideas from people in their 50s and 60s to help the generation above them to lead more fulfilling lives. We believe that there are genuinely innovative ideas in the local community which could have the potential to create new public services that could improve the lives of older people in Scotland and save the public purse."
[i] International Longevity Centre-UK report 17 August 2009
[ii] http://www.nesta.org.uk/areas_of_work/public_services_lab/ageing/age_unlimited/assets/features/preparing_for_ageing
For further information, please contact Stephanie Robertson, Weber Shandwick on 07809 665 773 or by email at srobertson@webershandwick.com
Age Unltd Timeline:
Programme opens - 14 December 2009
Closing date for applications - 14 February 2010
Full day workshops - Three events in three separate locations, March 2010
Incubation process - March-June 2010
Funding pitch - June 2010
About NESTA
NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, a unique and independent body with a mission to make the UK more innovative.
With the largest portfolio of early-stage businesses in the country, it is a leading authority on how to grow new ideas. It also stimulates imaginative solutions to pressing social issues and shapes policy to help the UK meet its national innovation challenges.
Age Unltd
Age Unltd sits within the NESTA Lab programme of activity in ageing. More information is available at www.nesta.org.uk/age-unlimited-scotland.
More information on the NESTA Lab and other aspects of the work on ageing can be found at http://www.nesta.org.uk/areas_of_work/public_services_lab
[1] International Longevity Centre-UK report 17 August 2009
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