Northern Ireland

Partner organisation: Queen's University, Belfast

contact details

For details of the Northern Ireland Steering Group click HERE

Summary of Activity

In Northern Ireland, O4O is working with rural groups in Co. Tyrone, Co. Armagh and Co. Down. It has fed into the development of the Rural White Paper and, with a focus on shared working, works with the Commission for Victims and Survivors to highlight the physical and emotional needs of those older people whose lives were impacted on by the conflict.

Case Study now available - click HERE to view.

Communities
 

Markethill, Co. Armargh

The O4O membership in this location is drawn from Victims and Survivors of the Northern Ireland conflict. O4O participants are working here to develop a social economy cafe and a meals on wheels services from their premises in a small market town which was bombed 9 times. Participants in O4O have identified that commercial and existing statutory service provision in the area is not tailored to the distinctive social isolation experienced by victims of the conflict and want to develop a ‘safe space’ for a drop-in centre where a cafe run for and by older people can provide a space for building friendships and a gateway for social activities and engagement alongside befriending, counselling and other therapeutic programmes.

Cookstown, Co. Tyrone

O4O is working with Age Concern Cookstown to search for new ways of working that will consolidate its existing services spread over three sites into one new, dedicated location. It intends to grow its service of a wide range of social and health-related activities, and the provision of meals on wheels service in partnership with other organisations and charities in the area. Representatives from Cookstown’s management committee attended partner meetings held in Helsinki with a view to applying their transnational learning in a local context.

Ards Peninsula, Co. Down

O4O has been asked to partner with the Healthy Living Centre with a view to local people’s desire to set up a short-term radio station to broadcast to older people in the area. This work will require a great deal of community development and capacity building to come to fruition, but the process of visioning and preparing for the project is proving to be a highly positive experience for the community with a high level of social capital in terms of its bridging and bonding benefits.
 

Media Coverage

O4O activities in Finland have garnered positive interest in the press. You can view PDF's of various newspaper and magazine articles below.

• Older People's Advocate Newsletter (February 2010) (O4O featured on back page)
• Newtownards Chronicle 25 March 2010: 'Cuan FM to go on air'

Links

The following organisations have formed strong links with O4O and are close partners to the project:

Northern Ireland Women's European Platform
Commission for Victims and Survivors NI
Older People's Advocate
Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland

Peninsula Healthy Living Partnership is a voluntary, community based organisation that is committed to health improvement through partnership, community involvement, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
 

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Age Concern Cookstown (before)