[cma-l] New Solutions Needed For An Age Old Problem

[CMA-L]

Thinking caps on, everybody - a new UK-wide programme has been
launched to develop innovative solutions to tackle the problem of an
increasingly aged society.

Elderly people tend to like radio - and community radio loves older
people.  However the community television crew might also be inspired
to get involved with this project.

The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts’ (NESTA)
£650,000 Age Unlimited scheme will look to fund a number of
demonstration projects that will help older people lead more active
and productive lives.

Last year, the number of people above state pension age exceeded those
aged under 16 for the first time, and the increasing proportion of
older people brings with it a whole host of challenges, such as
additional pressures on state pensions and other public services.

Through their new programme, NESTA is looking to support up to 20
practical projects that will test and demonstrate new models that will
help the nation overcome these issues.

Businesses, local authorities, social enterprises, trade unions, and
third sector organisations, such as voluntary and community groups,
are asked to come up with innovative ideas under one of the following
themes:

    * Age Readiness – projects that will experiment with new methods
that encourage people over the age of 50 to plan for and take actions
to enable them to age well.
    * Age Management - projects that focus on helping older people to
continue working beyond the statutory retirement age.

Grants ranging from £500 to £50,000 are available, with proposals
assessed against the following criteria:

    * Whether the idea has the potential to make a significant social
impact by supporting older people to age well.
    * Innovation and how the project clearly shows a new approach, or
implements existing ideas in a fresh way.
    * That the idea is "user-centred" and that older people have been
integral in the planning and development.
    * Feasibility.
    * Sustainability.
    * Whether the project has the potential to be transferred and
replicated in a wider context.
    * Value for money.

The programme will officially open to applications from 15 May, with
interested organisations having until 19 June to submit their
proposals. Around 40 entries will be given advice and support to
develop their ideas further, before a panel of experts chooses up to
20 successful projects that will share the funding pot.

Announcing the initiative, Rowena Young, a director at NESTA’s public
services innovation lab, said:

“The rise in our ageing population is one of the most significant
social challenges we face. It requires radical new approaches to avert
an unprecedented drain on already depleted public finances.

“This programme will look to deal with prevention, rather than cure by
putting forward the ideas of people with the best insights into
solving some of the challenges we face in this area.”

For further information about Age Unlimited, visit the NESTA website:

http://www.nestalab.org.uk/age-unlimited-call-for-ideas/

Get crackin'!

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Community Media Association
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