Anchor Trust Community Development Team’s work comes to an end in March

Anchor Trust Community Development Team in Hartlepool followed on from Hartlepool’s success as one of only 28 pilot schemes throughout the country for Better Government for Older People.  The aim throughout the nine year life of the Community Development Project has been to involve older people in the decision making process of the public, private, voluntary and community sectors and to work around the issues of prevention.  The project has focused on working with people aged 50 plus to promote independence, prevent deterioration of health and improve quality of life and engagement with the community. 

The team have worked throughout Hartlepool with individuals and groups to identify what people really want and have tried to help them achieve it.  There have been many successes over the nine years, too many to fit into the space here, but three areas of work have probably had the greatest impact and they are Hartlepool 50+ Forum, the Falls Prevention Programme and Hartlepool’s Older People’s Strategy.  The Forum is regarded as an important mechanism for consultation relating to the planning and developing of services which affect older people, and Forum members represent older people on most of the important decision making bodies throughout the town.  The Falls Prevention Programme has been an example of excellent partnership working between health professionals and community based staff which has benefited hundreds of older people offering them a comprehensive service of advice and information, which has helped to prevent falls, but also offered early intervention and treatment if necessary. Hartlepool’s Older People’s Strategy was one of the first in the country to come to fruition and at the time was fairly unique as it was truly led by older people with the 50+ Forum taking the lead supported by the relevant statutory, community and private sector organisations.  Large consultation events took place at every stage of the process, which resulted in a strategy and action plan truly owned by older people covering all areas affecting true quality of life for people 50+.

Denise Harris from Anchor Trust said “On a personal note the Team would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the many partner organisations who have supported our work over the years and encourage the continued involvement of older people in future work especially the more low–level services which truly make a difference. To all of the groups and individual older people a big thank you for your time, commitment and enthusiasm which has made the past nine years both enjoyable and extremely rewarding”.  The Team has had strong links with the Community Network and was involved in setting up the Community Network in 2002.  Discussions are taking place with the Local Authority and Hartlepool PCT to ensure that the work of the 50+ Forum continues.