The Activity Buddies project started in 2005 and highlights how older people and the university's academic and student community can successfully and mutually access one another's expertise and experiences.

Activity Buddies Project Outline

In 2005-6, Cupp funded a pilot project that explored how older people and the University of Brighton’s academic and student community could deepen their knowledge of each other’s experiences and expertise. Project participants proposed a ‘buddy scheme’ to build intergenerational understanding through participation in physical, creative, and intellectually focused activities related to students’ subject areas.

The Activity Buddies project, in partnership with Eastbourne Age Concern and the University of Brighton's @ctive Student, was supported by BSCKE funding. The project aimed to enhance older people’s confidence, health and wellbeing; and to improve students’ work in community settings, particularly with older people.

The project connected older people with academics and university students from the School of Health Professions (Physiotherapy students), the School of Service Management (Tourism and Service Management students) and the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science (Pharmacy students). The scheme ran three themed buddy strands: Fitness for Health, A Secret History of Holidays, and a previously successful BSCKE funded programme called ‘Dispensing with the Mystery’. Each scheme ran for six weeks and involved 5 student participants from each cohort with up to 10 older people participating in each strand.

Current Project

The Activity Buddies: Promoting Quality of Life for Older People project is an extension of the successful work carried out so far. It is funded by the South East Coastal Communities Programme and will continue to support and provide an opportunity for students and older people to engage together in intergenerational activities related to the student's subject area. This buddy relationship will involve engaging mental abilities and skills as well as health-related, physical or information-sharing activities which will ultimately have purpose and meaning to the individuals or group.

Project Team

The project team includes academics from University of Brighton, University of Sussex and local voluntary organisations.

•Professor Ann Moore, (Project Manager), Clinical Research Centre for Health Professions

•Ms Lisa Hodgson, (Project Co-ordinator), Clinical Research Centre for Health Professions

•Dr Raija Kuisma, (Strand Lead), School of Health Professions (Physiotherapy Division)

•Mr Mike Ellis-Martin, (Strand Lead), School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences

•Dr Linda Lovelock, (Strand Lead), School of Health Professions (Occupational Therapy Division)

•Dr Marion Martin, (Activity Buddies REAP Evaluator), School of Health Professions (Occupational Therapy Division)

•Dr Elizabeth Harrison,(Strand Lead), School of Anthropology, University of Sussex

•Professor Marian Barnes, (Strand Lead), Social Science Policy and Research Centre

•Mr David Harley, (Strand Lead), School of Applied Social Science

•Mrs Paula Riley, (Strand Lead), School of Health Professions(Podiatry Division)

•Ms Juliet Millican, (Strand Lead), School of Applied Social Sciences

•Ms Finola Brophy, (Strand Lead), Project Manager, Age Concern Brighton, Hove and Portslade

•Ms Kirsty Henshall, (Community Partner), Project Manager, WRVS

•Ms Helen Kennet, (Community Partner), Active Age Manager, Age Concern

•Ms Beth Thomas-Hancock, (Community Partner), @ctive Student, University of Brighton

•Mr Simon Northmore, (Development Manager – South East Coastal Communities Project)

The project brings together university students of the School of Health Professions (physiotherapy students, occupational therapy students and podiatry students), School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences (pharmacy students), University of Sussex (sociology students) and School of Applied Social Science (social science students).

Project Strands

Strand 1: Fitness and Mobility for Health Dr Raija Kuisma (School of Health Professions - physiotherapy division)

Strand 2: Dispensing with the Mystery Mr Mike Ellis-Martin (School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences)

Strand 3: Together in learning Dr Linda Lovelock (School of Health Professions - occupational therapy division)

Strand 4: Reduced Horizons Dr Elizabeth Harrison (anthropology department, University of Sussex) Mr David Harley (School of Applied Social Sciences) Professor Marian Barnes (Social Science Policy and Research Centre, University of Brighton)

Strand 5: Foot Health Education Programme Mrs Paula Riley (School of Health Professions - podiatry division)

Strand 6: Community Partnerships Ms Juliet Millican (School of Applied Social Sciences) Ms Finola Brophy (Age Concern Brighton, Hove and Portslade)

It is hoped that these activities will improve older people's health and wellbeing by enhancing their general fitness, knowledge of medications, creative activities, confidence in their abilities and skills, self-esteem and also address the need for individuals to remain active mentally and physically in post retirement years. The project will also demonstrate positive approaches to ageing through the different activities and more specifically through the narratives of older people themselves, through one-to-one and focus group interviews. In addition, the project will continue to develop a transferable model which demonstrates best practices of promoting health and wellbeing of older people through a community and university partnership, to be used in other faculties in the University of Brighton and University of Sussex.