A Good Life

'A Good Life' is an exciting initiative designed to bring community groups, businesses and volunteers together to tackle loneliness in later life.

Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, the programme brings together public and voluntary sector agencies including Community Action Network, BCP Council, Bournemouth University, Help and Care, Poole Housing Partnership, PramaLife and Public Health Dorset.

The programme aims to increase awareness amongst the wider community of the challenges of loneliness and social isolation that older people face, and equip community groups and businesses to identify and engage with older people, ultimately developing their own solutions to local need.

It is our aim that through the programme, older people will have greater knowledge of community services and activities, participate in more activities, and so will experience improved health and wellbeing, and reduced loneliness.

The programme will initially be introduced in the Canford Cliffs, Newtown and Alderney areas of Poole.

Click here to listen to Pete Bungay interviewed on Hope FM about the project.

How can individuals get involved?

For some individuals, taking those first steps into connecting with their community can be difficult. Our volunteer 'Community Connectors' will work on a one-to-one basis to help older people experiencing loneliness or social isolation enjoy community activities (through accompanying them at first, then helping to develop their confidence to continue independently). Volunteers will be recruited and appropriately trained to support older people, to identify what they would like to do and empower them to do it.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus situation, we are currently working with community groups, charities and statutory bodies to look at different ways to support older lonely people during this difficult time. However, we would still love to hear from you if you are interested in volunteering to contribute to this exciting programme in the future.

Please visit the volunteering page where you can find task descriptions and an application form.

How can businesses or groups get involved?

If you are a business, community group or host activities in the Canford Cliffs, Newtown or Alderney areas, please do get in touch to chat about how we can work together to help tackle loneliness in later life. Call Claire (Volunteer Coordinator for A Good Life) on 07966 742902 or email [email protected] Alternatively, contact Steve Place on 07966 742 933 or email [email protected] - you can also find more information about the role businesses and groups can play in building Great Neighbourhoods below.

Use the links below to learn more about the Good Life programme and discover how to lend your support either as an individual, group or business.