Close Encounters Project Angela Gill Project Manager GVA
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Close Encounters Project Angela Gill, Project Manager, GVA Age Concern Gosport, Chair of Trustees
Close Encounters Project What is Close Encounters? Social isolation partnership project: - Ø Gosport Voluntary Action (GVA) Ø Age UK Portsmouth (AUKP) Ø South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) Ø University of Portsmouth Ø (Sub-contractor – Age Concern Gosport, ACG) Ø National Lottery Community Funded – 3 years
GVA’s Close Encounters Project Social isolation is an issue: Ø ‘Campaign to End Loneliness’ Ø Has a negative impact on health & wellbeing Ø Creates barriers, particularly for older people Ø Top social issues - GVA’s Surgery Signposter project HCC’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, 2017… Ø 10% of people 65+ are lonely ‘most of the time’ Ø Predicts a 26% increase in 75+ by 2023 Ø Over 50% of these currently live alone
Close Encounters Project ü Addressing social isolation – 190 people helped in Gosport & Portsmouth in the first 6 months… Ø Advocacy Services Ø Befriending & Come Here and Talk (CHAT) Ø Social clubs & fun activities ü Engaging with SCAS colleagues to identify/reduce frequent callers
Age Concern Gosport. . . üInformation & free benefit form-filling support for the 55+ & their family/carers Ø Enables access to c£ 330, 000 pa of benefits Ø C 300 local people pa - helped by local volunteers
Age Concern Gosport. . . ØFree ACG ‘Your Care in Your Hands’ talks on future Care Planning/Wishes, Lasting Power of Attorney, Organ Donation…
Volunteers Needed! Volunteer Opportunities Ø GVA – particularly Advocacy volunteers – help vulnerable older people to use their voice, secure their rights, access the services they need… Ø Age Concern Gosport - various flexible volunteer opportunities for a few hours a week – office support, outreach, marketing, trustees…
Contact Details. . . GVA & ACG – co-located in Martin Snape House, Pavilion Way, Gosport, PO 12 1 FG GVA/CE – www. gva. org. uk officesupervisor@gva. org. uk 02392 583836
Contact Details. . . Age Concern Gosport (ACG) www. ageconcerngosport. org. uk info@ageconcerngosport. org. uk 02392 604699
Questions? Thank you.
