Innovations Network Award 2012
The College runs an annual award programme for projects that exemplify the College’s key principles: Service, Science and Healing. This year the College invited applications from healthy ageing projects at the forefront of delivering patient-centred work makes use of an integrated approach, embraces patient-participation, and aims at evidence-based care; We wanted to know above all how what they are doing adds to the wellbeing of the local community.
Choosing between the diverse range of applicants was a challenge, but after much deliberation, site-visits and discussions amongst the judging panel (key judge Dr David Oliver - National Clinical Director of Older People’s Servces) we were delighted to declare a winner - Fit as a Fiddle, an Age UK wellbeing programme, with Well UK South West Wellbeing as the runner-up and, as our ‘Small is Beautiful’ runner-up The Older Peoples’ Service from Halton in Cheshire.
2012 Winners
Overall winner
Age UK’s Fit as a Fiddle programme
Established in 2007 and funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Fit as a Fiddle exemplifies patient-participation and health promotion. It is designed by older people for older people and champions healthy eating, physical activity and mental wellbeing.
Fit as a Fiddle comprises two national projects and 24 regional projects. An incredible 300,000 older people and 4,500 volunteers have benefitted from the project which was created after older people were consulted at the outset and through all stages of the programme design. Interim results from an independent evaluation of the project demonstrate an improvement in healthy eating habits as well as the physical and mental wellbeing of participants.
Well UK achieves effective local actions promoting health, wellbeing and independent living for older people suffering social isolation, low level mental health or age related conditions. Their model is holistic using local delivery partners to provide physicalmental & emotional activities (walking, balance, gardening, art, cooking, Choir, friendship) and volunteering to achieve sustained recovery and reduce medical appointments. The SW Wellbeing Programme focus is on positive physical, social and mental states, bringing about a holistic approach engaging the community and providing sustained recovery. It emphasises local community involvement and the role of informal social networks.
‘Small is Beautiful’ runner-up
Older People’s Service, Halton and St Helen’s
Halton has the 4th highest standardised mortality ratio of all 354 local authority districts in England - 23% above the average for England and Wales. The Older Peoples’ Service was launched in 2008. The service is led by the Health Improvement Team whose aim is to make a positive impact on social isolation and health inequalities in the over 50's in the Borough. The programme’s approach to promoting health, independence and well-being in old age is multi-sectoral.The programme aims to improve healthy life expectancy and reduce health inequalities amongst carers, those recovering from health conditions and the over 50s
Age UK Waltham Forest Case-Finding project
Award Coordinator: Helen Cooke (helen.cooke@collegeofmedicine.org.uk)