Birmingham City Council has awarded almost five million pounds of funding over the next two years to around 40 voluntary organisations to primarily help older people lead more independent lives.

We know that older people want to remain independent and in their own homes for as long as possible. So we are investing in prevention so our citizens can live healthy, happy, independent lives in their own homes and communities. There are a range of organisations and groups in local neighbourhoods and communities that provide valuable services and we need to ensure that these are invested in so that our citizens can benefit from the activities and services provided.

There are some really inspiring stories from people who have been supported to become more independent or learn new skills and activities, whilst feeling part of their local community.

Take the example of the Chinese Community Garden. Many people aged over 55 within the Chinese community find it hard to access to fresh fruit and vegetables as they struggle to get out and about. The Chinese Community Centre Birmingham (CCCB), which receives funding from the city council, helped secure a Postcode Lottery grant which paid for the garden to be installed. It is now a fantastic community grow-space and adds a little bit of greenery to an urban environment.

The CCCB has also done some great work in attracting people who wouldn’t normally come to a community centre, supporting theatre and arts projects for people who have never been to the theatre, providing iPad training, group walks and some Latin American dance!

Meanwhile, the Birmingham Irish Association is continuing its Older Adults Inclusion (OAI) project, helping tackle loneliness and isolation. It is predicted that the number of older adults living alone in Birmingham will rise by up to 7.5% and, on average 60 per cent of those aged over 65 have their activities limited by long term health problems.

The OAI project will provide lots of different activities and support, from lunch clubs and singing, healthy cooking lessons, money management and exercise – whether Tai Chi, a healthy walk or a bit of line dancing!

There are far too many to mention here, but in the next few months I will be travelling around the city visiting some of these great projects and organisations.

I want to meet the volunteers who work so hard, and the people they help to have better and more fulfilling lives – and I also want to show Birmingham residents who we are funding and why it is so important.

I can’t wait to get started, so watch this space for more news.

This blog was posted on 24 September 2019