The Valuing Older People Cultural Offer Working Group is a collaboration between the major city centre cultural venues in Manchester, the Valuing Older People partnership and a number of other key partners. The project works to increase the level of arts participation among Manchester’s older citizens.
The key aim of the VOPCO Working Group is to improve the quality of life of Manchester’s older people. Whilst there were already good engagement programmes delivered through dedicated education, outreach and audience development staff, the Group was convened in recognition of the fact that these were often not effectively targeted at older people or directed at the wards in Manchester where uptake of cultural opportunities was least likely.
By breaking down the barriers that older people might face accessing cultural activities for the first time, older people will be helped to develop new skills, meet new people and as a result increase their self confidence. This will encourage them to access further creative programmes which will subsequently improve their mental and social well being.
The aims of the Valuing Older People Working Group:
- Improving access to, and participation in, cultural activity for older residents, particularly those living in the more disadvantaged wards in the city;
- Better coordination of existing programmes and opportunities;
- Directing outreach and education programmes to the areas of the city where there is the least uptake of cultural activities amongst older residents;
- Developing a ‘cultural offer’ for older people;
- Giving older people a voice in the future programming of cultural venues;
- Providing an advocacy and lobbying function within all cultural organisations;
- Reducing barriers (or perceived barriers) that prevent older people’s participation in creative activity;
- Establishing progression routes to empower, inspire and support Manchester’s diverse older population to fulfil their creative potential through links with informal adult learning opportunities.
For more information on any aspect of the Valuing Older People Cultural Offer project, email Sherry De Wynter or call 0161 234 2955.
www.manchester.gov.uk/vop www.baringfoundation.org.uk