Identifying older people’s learning needs

This Community based participatory research helped to identify learning needs of older isolated people and their carers in Coldean. .

The project built on the innovative community participation project at New Larchwood supported by the Trust for Developing Communities (TDC), involving the wider community in using the facility and tackling isolation of older people. The facility is a local resource that could be developed into a hub for learning opportunities in the future in partnership with adult learning centres and the University. There was a need to get in touch with older people in the wider community to overcome feelings of loneliness and isolation. We wanted to find out what learning opportunities would get them more involved.

To read the full report of the project, please follow the link below.

[http://about.brighton.ac.uk/cupp/images/stories/CLLIPReportFinalFinal.pdf]

A recent update from Steven Andrews on how the project has developed since 2013

"The Research on attitudes to learning amongst older people in Coldean was well received and people took to the 'mapping with coloured stickers ' approach introduced by Vicky Johnson. The most important outcome identified in 2013 was that older people felt more than willing to learn new skills as long as transport was on offer and they were accompanied. Vicky has subsequently become a Trustee of TDC. In 2014 the first OT Student came to New Larchwood, requiring weekly supervision by myself for an 8 week period. This investment of TDC Worker time proved invaluable, identifying areas of need and this was reflected by the presence of 4 further OT Students 2015-16 who have enabled activities to be available 5 days a week for older people in Coldean, which are currently being sustained by local volunteers. I am very much looking forward to both the next intake of OT Students and those who will hopefully be taking up the Social Policy course."