How is Ageing with Confidence organised?

Staff

Ageing with Confidence is managed by Age & Opportunity's Education and Training Coordinator, Paul Maher.

Funding

Core funding for Ageing with Confidence is provided by the HSE.  Occasionally, one-off funding is received from Lottery Funds. Core funding is used primarily to  staff the programme, market the programme and pay contracted Trainers to train potential Facilitators during Phase One of the programme.

During Phase One of the course delivery, it is the responsibility of the local partner to provide the funds needed for the training venue, meals, etc. Benefit in-kind contributions are provided to Ageing with Confidence by the partner organisations. This manifests itself in the form of venue for delivery, advertising for potential Facilitators, etc.

Phase Two, which is the delivery of Ageing with Confidence by the Facilitators to older people locally, is funded primarily by the local partner (such as the VEC or a community development organisation) who pays the trained Facilitators.

History

Ageing with Confidence was established in 2001 as a community education programme. The programme was developed through a partnership between Northside Counselling Service (NCS), the HSE, Community Care Area 8 (formerly Northern Area Health Board) and Age & Opportunity.

The impetus for the initiative arose from a perceived need for an educational/self-development course targeted at older people to counter older people’s negative perceptions of ageing and ageism, their lack of confidence and to empower them to improve their health and social gain in their own lives. As a means of achieving this goal Ageing with Confidence provides education for health by developing life skills and by promoting positive mental health and self-confidence for older people.