Key Theme Five

Key Theme 5: Optimising independence and wellbeing: Supporting people, as they age, to continue making a positive contribution in our communities.

This section of the strategy tells you:

1. What we have identified as the key priorities relating to this theme;
2. Why we have identified these key priorities;
3. What we plan to do to make a positive difference.

Many of the plans set out in this and other themes in the Ageing Well strategy are ambitious, and will require close and effective partnerships across a range of local organisations from the statutory, community and private sectors and, crucially, with local communities for these ambitions to be realised.

During the work to develop this strategy older people, and particularly younger older people, have told us that they would welcome the opportunity to engage in volunteering opportunities that promote the wellbeing of other older people and make a positive contribution in their local communities.

We have also heard from some local community and voluntary sector organisations that provide services such as befriending services locally that they cannot always find the right mix of volunteers (in terms of factors such as gender, ethnic origin and so on) to match the older people referred to the service.

Update Spring 2018

Interviews were held in 2017 with the Tower Hamlets Volunteer Centre, and discussions about volunteering held at an OPRG meeting. Funding for Community Ambassador scheme and Community Transport scheme approved and specifications being agreed. 

These interviews and discussions are shaping the action plan which we are currently finalising.

• Action Plan
• Do-it.org
• Volunteering Matters UK,
• Volunteering Matters East London including Tower Hamlets
• Community and Voluntary Sector Strategy 2016 – 2019 (has section on volunteering, p. 27)

For further information, please contact orenda.obrien-davis@towerhamlets.gov.uk, 020 7364 4981.