Rising to the challenge

15/2/13

- Five Finalists finding innovative ways to help reduce isolation in old age in Nesta challenge prize

Five Finalists are left in the running for a £50,000 prize which aims to find new ways to encourage communities to give time, skills and resources to help reduce isolation in old age. With over 700,000 people (7%) aged 65 or over saying they always or often feel lonely[1] and half of all older people considering the television as their main form of company[2], new ideas are needed if we are to solve this widespread issue. 

The Finalists have been selected as part of the Ageing Well Challenge Prize, run by Nesta, the UK's innovation foundation, and funded by the Cabinet Office. Ideas include a radio club where participants can chat 'live on air', a post-work networking club to help men redefine their retirement, and a community café run by 'Nanas' for the local community. 

The Finalists will receive funding of up to £10,000 and support to set up and test their innovations over the next six months. The Challenge will reward the innovation that best reduced the isolation and/or increases the mobility, of older people by creating new opportunities for people to give time, skills and resources. Ultimately the one idea that demonstrates the most success will be awarded the £50,000 prize.

The five Finalists are: 

Helen Platt Ltd, Radio Club

Radio Club is 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. As members, they talk about anything and everything, giving them a chance to chat, whilst creating great content for the listeners -as well as some radio stars of the future.

http://vimeo.com/55789160   

NANA - comfort food café

A comfort food and community cafe run by older ladies from the local area.  For older ladies it's a chance to get out 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.

http://vimeo.com/55772878  

The After Work Club

Anetwork 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 and equip themselves to be better able to face the challenges of ageing.

http://vimeo.com/55787920 

Stonewall Housing, One Small Step

Run by Stonewall Housing, One Small Step 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.

http://vimeo.com/55605478 

Age UK Exeter, Tools Company

Tools Company, part of Men in Sheds,enables men to repairbroken 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.

http://vimeo.com/54850623

Tris Dyson, director of Nesta's Centre for Challenge Prizes, explains "As a growing number of us live to an older age, becoming isolated is not just a worry but a reality that may affect any one of us. These approaches are already making a real difference to people's lives and we look forward to seeing them scale up their impact in the next few months."

Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society, said "These finalists showcase once again the vibrancy and originality of the voluntary sector, producing new ideas to combat the long standing problem of isolation in old age. I wish each of them the best of luck."

Notes to Editors

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Sarah Reardon on 020 7438 2611/ Sarah.reardon@nesta.org.uk or Natalie Hodgson on 020 7438 2614/ Natalie.hodgson@nesta.org.uk  

About Nesta: www.nesta.org.uk

Nesta is the UK's innovation foundation. We help people and organisations bring great ideas to life. We do this by providing investments and grants and mobilising research, networks and skills. We are an independent charity and our work is enabled by an endowment from the National Lottery.

Nesta Operating Company is a registered charity in England and Wales with a company number 7706036 and charity number 1144091. Registered as a charity in Scotland number SC042833. Registered office: 1 Plough Place, London, EC4A 1DE

·        The Giving Challenges - Waste Reduction and Ageing Well - have been set to encourage community innovation in the giving of time, skills and resources for social good. The challenges are run by Nesta's Centre for Challenge Prizes and funded by the Cabinet Office and will see one idea from each of the challenges awarded £50,000.

·        The Ageing Well challenge prize tasks organisations and groups to develop ideas to reduce the isolation and / or increase the mobility of vulnerable older people by creating new opportunities for people to give time, skills and resources.

·        Five Finalists, with the potential for sustainability and scale, have been selected to test their ideas. They will receive up to £10,000 and professional advice to set up and test their projects before a winner for each challenge is selected in November 2013 and awarded £50,000.

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[1] ICM Research: Christmas and Laughter Survey for Age UK (November 2011), 65+ (1,049 UK)

[2] ICM Research survey for Age UK, December 2009