Faithfully Ageing Better is celebrating how Middlesbrough churches are responding to loneliness and isolation among older people.
During the past six months Faithfully Ageing Better has been doing an audit of all the activities that churches in Middlesbrough provide involving older people. They would like to say a huge thanks to everyone who participated in the survey and to everyone who welcomed us at their lunch clubs, gatherings and meetings. It is clear that churches in Middlesbrough do a huge amount to support older people in our communities!
They found that 95% of churches see loneliness and isolation as a significant problem in their community and are already doing a lot to address it with all churches having at least one activity that involves older people. In total churches in Middlesbrough provide more than 100 activities that reach well over 1000 older people in their community which is amazing.
Some wonderful examples include the fabulous lunch club at St Cuthbert’s Marton which (arguably) serves the best sticky toffee pudding in town, and Welcome Break at St Barnabas Church, Linthorpe which loyal fans say gives them a place where they belong and can contribute to their community. (see report)
Faithfully Ageing Better are having an event on the 29th November at The Trinity Centre, North Ormesby, from 10am until 2.30pm. This will be a chance to celebrate the great work that is already going on in local churches and share the key findings of the survey.
It will also be an opportunity to think about how churches with the support of Faithfully Ageing Better can work together to develop new activities and support each other in serving older people in the community. The four key areas churches would like to develop are: places of hospitality and welcome, support for people living with dementia, bereavement support, and opportunities to bring generations together.
If you are interested in any of these topics and would like to find out more about what churches in Middlesbrough are doing, you are invited to join the 60 plus people already expected to attend the event. To book a place please contact Kate Wells: kate.wells@togethermc.org Tel 07532 744924. Lunch will be provided so please inform Kate of any dietary requirements.
For more information on Ageing Better Middlesbrough visit their website.