the inaugural learning network conference

The InaugurallearnIng neTwork ConferenCe

Monday 17 November 2014Wallacespace 18 Clerkenwell Green EC1R 0DP

BEHONEST

BE

ENCOURAGED

The Inaugural learnIng neTwork ConferenCe 3

BEHONEST

BE

ENCOURAGED

about The Campaign to end loneliness 4

about The learning network 5

Conference agenda 6

Speaker Profiles 8

keynote Sessions 10

workshop Synopsis 11

Conference attendees 12

4 The Inaugural learnIng neTwork ConferenCe

The Campaign to End Loneliness is a network of national, regional and local organisations and people working together through community action, good practice, research and policy to create the right conditions to reduce loneliness in later life. We were launched in 2011, are led by five partner organisations and work alongside 2,000 supporters, all tackling loneliness in older age.

Our five partners are: Age UK Oxfordshire, Independent Age, Manchester City Council, Royal Voluntary Service and Sense. The Campaign to End Loneliness is funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Tudor Trust and Independent Age.

We aim to reduce loneliness in older age by creating the right policy and funding conditions for groups and individuals working to address the issue. We work with a wide range of organisations to seek the following change:

• Higher quality, and more effective, services and activities

• Better use of existing support, especially by the most lonely

• Increased development of services and activities targeting loneliness

abouT

The CamPaIgn To

end lonelIneSS


The Learning Network was established in 2014 for any organisation who is committed to tackling loneliness. The Learning Network members work across the voluntary, community, local government and private sectors and range from very small neighbourhood schemes – supporting just a few older people – to national charities with multiple services and thousands of volunteers.

The Learning Network provides the services providers with the latest research, examples of good practice and advice on tackling loneliness. It exists to make sure they do not have to work themselves in isolation! We host regular workshops and develop unique resources to support practice. We are currently developing an impact measurement tool for services tackling loneliness.

abouT

The learnIng

neTwork


reCePTIon area & kITChen

10.00 – 10.30 Coffee and Registration

The den (level -1)

10.30 – 10.45 Welcome Laura Ferguson, Director, Campaign to End Loneliness

10.45 – 11.20 Keynote Presentation: Loneliness Across The Life Course Professor Christina Victor, Professor of Gerontology and

Public Health, Vice Dean-Research, Brunel University London, College of Health and Life Sciences

11.20 – 11.35 [Part I] Loneliness Challenges: What Do Older People Say? Facilitator: Martin Farrell, Founder & Director, Get2ThePoint Film Interviews: with older people who have experienced loneliness: • Topic 1: Living In An Urban Or Inner-City Area • Topic 2: Living In A Rural – And Geographically Isolated – Area • Topic 3: Growing Old As A LGBT Person • Topic 4: Becoming A Carer

kITChen (ground floor)

11.35 – 12.00 Refreshments Break

The den (level -1)

12.00 – 12.30 [Part II] Loneliness Challenges: Small Group Discussion Delegates will separate into discussion groups and focus on one of

the challenge topics presented before the break. Led by the video case studies, the groups will debate how to respond to different barriers to staying connected in these circumstances.

12.30 – 12.55 [Part III] Loneliness Challenges: Feedback and Expert Presentations We’ll hear from experts in these four different areas: • Ann Osborn, Rural Coffee Caravan Information Project • Alex Smith, North London Cares • Stacey Halls, Opening Doors London (ODL) • Sally Chandler, Hillingdon Carers

12.55 – 13.30 [Part IV] Topic Cluster Discussions Groups with the same topics will discuss and give feedback to each

other and consolidate recommendations, led by a facilitator.

ConferenCe

agenda


13.30 – 14.30 Lunch

14.30 – 16.00 Parallel Workshops

The den (level -1)

16.00 – 16.30 You Are Not Alone! Suggested Next Steps Facilitator: Martin Farrell, Founder & Director, Get2The Point Led by Martin, the entire group will come together to hear

presentations from the “Loneliness Challenge” session clusters, share key lessons and observations of the day and identify questions that remain unanswered.

16.30 – 17.00 Afternoon Tea & Networking A final opportunity to discuss your work with like-minded

colleagues and exchange useful contact information.

SalT & PePPer room (level 1)

workShoP 1Hidden Citizens: Identifying The Most Lonely AdultsFacilitator: Anna Goodman, Learning and Research Manager, Campaign to End Loneliness

The den (level -1)

workShoP 2What Works: How We Can Best Tackle LonelinessChair: Philip Talbot, Chief Executive, Age UK Herefordshire and WorcestershireFacilitator: Kate Jopling, Independent Consultant

Coffee room (level 2)

workShoP 3Loneliness, Dying And Death: How Can We Respond?Facilitator: Laura Bennett, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, The National Council for Palliative Care


SPeaker

ProfIleS

Sally Chandler, Chief Executive, Hillingdon Carers

Sally has been the Chief Executive at Hillingdon Carers since May 2014. She worked previously with carers, being part of the team that opened the (then) Princess Royal Trust Salford Carers Centre. She brings a range of experience to the role, having had a career that spans the health

service, public health, local government and the third sector. For the past 10 years she worked in the Age-friendly Manchester team, part of Public Health Manchester, and co-produced this nationally-recognised ageing programme. Sally led the development of the World Health Organisation-affiliated UK Age-friendly Cities Network and the award-winning Positive Images of Ageing work in Manchester in the early 2000s.

Stacey Halls, Opening Doors London Manager / LGBT Campaigns & Policy Officer, Opening Doors London

Stacey has worked for Opening Doors London* for the past five years – initially as a Development Coordinator before moving into campaigns and then took over overall project management in 2013. Her professional

background has primarily been in working with non-profit organisations with a focus on services for older people, social justice and training provision. While studying for a degree in philosophy in New York she taught older adults how to use computers & technology and supported their successful campaign for digital inclusion for older New Yorkers. *the UK’s largest organisation providing information & support services specifically for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

Martin Farrell, Founder & Director, Get2ThePoint

Martin Farrell has worked in the UK voluntary sector and international NGOs for four decades since volunteering in a deprived area of Manchester and in South African in the early 1970s. Before setting up www.get2thepoint.org (1997) he held senior positions in the British Red Cross and Save the Children.

Martin’s first international assignment was with the UN in 2002. His clients include UN agencies, Transparency International, Fair Trade, British Council (UK, Brazil) the EU (in China) and other European agencies and the Commonwealth Foundation. Since January 2013 he has been on the IAF global Board as Regional Director, Europe Middle East North Africa region. He writes a regular column for Third Sector magazine about breaking bad habits.

*Photo copyright Third Sector.


Laura Ferguson Director, Campaign to End Loneliness

In 2010, Laura Ferguson became the Director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, a network of local, regional and national organisations and people working together through community action, good practice, policy and research to combat loneliness and isolation in the United Kingdom.

Prior to joining the Campaign, Laura worked in a range of partnership and communications roles with national charities Volunteering England and the Royal National Institute of the Blind and before this worked in the private sector. Her voluntary work in founding a local cycling campaign led her to become a Sheila McKechnie Campaigner Award winner in 2009.

Ann Osborn, Director, Rural Coffee Caravan Information Project

Ann Osborn has worked with the Rural Coffee Caravan Information Project for over ten years and in her role as Director has worked passionately to raise the charity’s profile and bring in vital funds to increase the organization’s capacity across Suffolk so that many more

people can take advantage of their services. Ann is also a proud mum of four children and prior to her work with the Rural Coffee Caravan Information Project, worked as a successful Manager and Licensee of seven Pizza Hut franchises.

Alex Smith, Founder & CEO, South London Cares & North London Cares

Alex Smith is founder and CEO of South London Cares and North London Cares and runs day-to-day operations. He was formerly an aide to the Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, and editor of one of the biggest political websites in the UK. Alex was awarded an UnLtd social enterprise

award for his work founding North London Cares in 2011, and another for founding South London Cares in 2014.

Professor Christina Victor, Professor of Gerontology and Public Health, Vice Dean-Research, Brunel University London, College of Health and Life Sciences

Christina is Professor of Gerontology and Public Health and Vice Dean (Research) in the College of Health and Life sciences at Brunel University

London. Her main research interests are how the social context influences the experience of ageing and later life with a specific focus upon loneliness and isolation. She is currently undertaking research investing trajectories of loneliness over time, loneliness and dementia and loneliness and isolation among minority elders. Christina has written over 200 journal articles and book chapters and has published 8 books in the field of gerontology. She is Editor of Ageing and Society, the leading social gerontology journal in the UK; a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.


lonelIneSS aCroSS The lIfe CourSe

Professor Christina Victor, Professor of Gerontology and Public Health, Vice Dean-Research, Brunel University London, College of Health and Life Sciences

We have an extensive body of research describing the prevalence of loneliness and identifying the risk factors that can trigger it. However there are many aspects of loneliness that remain less well researched. In this presentation, we will learn how to define and understand loneliness, social isolation and solitude in older age. We will hear how attitudes and perceptions about loneliness in later life influence how individuals and wider society experience and think about loneliness. We show how attitudes about loneliness influence the likelihood of older people becoming lonely and challenge the stereotype of Christmas being the time when older people are most lonely.

lonelIneSS Challenge SeSSIon

Facilitator: Martin Farrell, Founder & Director, Get2ThePoint

This session will focus on the different challenges that some communities can face when trying to stay connected as they grow older. We will hear directly from people who have experience of loneliness because:

• They live in an inner-city area

• They live in a rural – and geographically isolated – area

• They are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual

• They have become a carer

Delegates will then be challenged to respond to some of the issues raised by our older experts by discussing recommendations for a hypothetical organisation working with older people in one of these communities. We encourage you to pick a discussion group that is of the most interest or relevance to you and your work.

We will also hear from four organisations who will explain how they currently respond to the challenges set out by older people across these different communities.

keynoTe

SeSSIonS


workShoP 1 – hIdden CITIzenS: how Can we IdenTIfy PeoPle who are lonely?

We are all aware that it can be difficult for services or groups to find and engage people who are experiencing loneliness. This workshop is based on brand new research from the Campaign to End Loneliness and the University of Kent. Attendees will learn about the known ‘pathways’ into loneliness, hear about two different service provider ‘strategies’ for identifying loneliness and debate some of the tricky questions like ‘how can we de-stigmatise the issue of loneliness?’

Facilitator: Anna Goodman, Learning and Research Manager, Campaign to End Loneliness

workShoP 2 – whaT workS: how Can we beST TaCkle lonelIneSS?

We are often asked the question of ‘what works’ and how to best design activities or support so that they address loneliness. We can’t promise to have all the answers! But this workshop will explore the early findings from a new Campaign to End Loneliness and Age UK project on this topic and share some of latest academic research and evidence from the voluntary and statutory sectors.

Chair: Philip Talbot, Chief Executive, Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire Facilitator: Kate Jopling, Independent Consultant

workShoP 3 – lonelIneSS, dyIng and loSS: how Can we reSPond?

This workshop will explore how we can prevent and alleviate the loneliness that can be caused by bereavement, and when people are approaching the end of their life. Led by Laura Bennett, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the National Council for Palliative Care, this workshop will guide attendees through recent research on loss and dying and share some practical advice for those working with the recently bereaved or oldest-old.

Facilitator: Laura Bennett, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, The National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC)

workShoPSSynoPSIS


dr. adrian adams Honorary Research Fellow University of Kent School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research

Jean allen Director Home Instead Senior Care

Sue arthur Policy and Research Manager Independent Age

mary baker Founder DropBy

Jessica barnes Research Practitioner Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust

laura bennett Policy and Public Affairs Manager The National Council for Palliative Care | NCPC

Jason bergen Programme Manager Gulbenkian Foundation

hazel bloor Homeline Manager Homeline, Bishop Creighton House

Tracy blunt Student Nurse University of Brighton

andrea breen Head of Prevention and Wellbeing Adults and Communities London Borough of Barnet

gill bromley Community Cohesion and Heritage Manager Kent County Council Libraries Registration and Archives

kathy bugden Community Development Worker Action with Communities in Rural Kent

Cherry bushell Executive Director NBFA Assisting the Elderly

angela Cairns Chief Executive Community Network

ConferenCe

aTTendeeS


Chris Commerford Integrated Care Programme Manager Age UK

russell Cowan Senior Volunteer and Marketing Officer LinkAge Bristol

Sandra Culham Community Initiatives Officer Colchester Borough Council

Janet dabbs CEO Age UK Bath & North East Somerset

rebecca de wessington Head of Customer Support Care Messenger (i-Spy Digital Ltd)

Su elliott Wandsworth Older People’s Forum

Tina english Director Embracing Age

martin farrell Founder & Director Get2ThePoint

Paul Cann Chief Executive Age UK Oxfordshire

alan Carpenter Chair Age UK Bristol

Sally Chandler Chief Executive Hillingdon Carers

amelia Clarke Director Volunteer Link Scheme

david Clayton PhD Research Student THAW & CATCH University of Sheffield

laura Clyne Director Hospitality Action

david Coe International Director Abbeyfield

Jenny Collieson Senior Information Specialist Social Care Institute for Excellence


laura ferguson Director Campaign to End Loneliness

karen ferris Commissioning Officer Hampshire County Council

reverend Canon Sally fogden Founder & Chairman of Trustees The Rural Coffee Caravan Information Project

lakhwinder gill Health Improvement Programme Lead – Older People Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

lilias gillies Wandsworth Older People’s Forum

Saskia goldman Policy Officer Friends of the Elderly

anna goodman Learning and Research Manager Campaign to End Loneliness

Sue gorbing SAND (Safe Ageing No Discrimination)

Stacey halls Opening Doors London Manager / LGBT Campaigns & Policy Officer Opening Doors London

lucy hastings Programme Director for Strategy Age UK

Jeff hawkins Chief Executive Age Connects Cardiff and Vale

Trish hill Adult Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Poynton Town Council

Sam holmes Project Director, Chapel St Community Health CIC Chapel St

margaret hulme Grants Manager Age UK

ursula humphreys Public Health Programme Manager Tameside Council

dr. brian hurwitz Trustee John Ellerman Foundation


Corinna hyman Programme Manager Ageing Better in Camden

Christopher Izzard Pastor Tankerton Evangelical Church

heather James Area Manager Royal Voluntary Service

Councillor david Jeffels Councillor and Vice Chairman North Yorkshire County Council

Charlotte Johnstone Big Lunch Support Officer The Big Lunch

kate Jopling Independent Consultant

debbie Judd Founder Neighbourworks CIC & The Knit-Stop

gemma Juma Director Dulwich Helpline and Southwark Churches Care

lisa kenny Wales Senior Service Manager – Health & Social Care British Red Cross Society

kalpa kharicha Senior Research Fellow University College London

James kirby Project Manager (Ageless Thanet) Social Enterprise Kent

richard kramer Deputy Chief Executive Sense

marette kroonenberg Grants Officer Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

michelle la garde Homeshare Coordinator ategi Shared Lives & Homeshare

helen leech Director Open Age

Julia linfoot Older Tenants Worker Housing for Women

wendy lockton-goddard Project Coordinator Riverside


anna maus Prevention & Wellbeing Service Development Officer London Borough of Barnet

ruth mcCallum Chief Officer Care Network Cambridgeshire

david mcCullouch Chief Executive Royal Voluntary Service

Clare mills Health and Wellbeing Lead Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

Carol munt Lay Member NHS Thames Valley Patient Experience Strategy Group

alan murphy Lead on Loneliness & Isolation Vintage Blacon

Theresa nash Director Heritage2health / Senior Lecturer Nursing Kingston and St George’s University

Jan oliver Office & Development Manager Enfield Over 50s Forum

ann osborn Director Rural Coffee Caravan Information Project

gareth Parkin Programme Lead South Yorkshire Housing Association

Sally Paton kerr Manager ategi Shared Lives, Buckinghamshire

mary rance Chief Executive Contact the Elderly

norma raynes Executive Director Intergen

léa renoux Policy Officer – Health and Wellbeing Age UK

michelle reynolds Good Neighbours Scheme Officer Community Council of Staffordshire

ruth richardson Programme Manager Age UK Bristol


Catherine rigney Public Health Officer Warwickshire County Council

Sally rivers Head of Operations – Wales Royal Voluntary Service

linda rogers Head of Operations Voluntary Norfolk

Samantha Sheppard Commissioning Manager Kent County Council

marianne Siddorn Campaigns and Communication Manager Campaign to End Loneliness

garry Simmonds Community Development Officer Rural Coffee Caravan Information Project

alex Smith Founder / CEO South London Cares / North London Cares

ruth Solomons Owner Right at Home (Harrow)

Philip Talbot Chief Executive Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Sheila Taylor Pastoral Worker Hope Trust, Felixstowe, Suffolk

Jenny Thomas Director Performance Consultancy

Peter ventre Principal Manager Halton Borough Council

Christina victor Professor of Gerontology and Public Health, Vice Dean-Research Brunel University London, College of Health and Life Sciences

marjie walker Manager The Link Visiting Scheme

Sue wallace-bonner Operational Director Halton Borough Council

abigail walton Service Development Officer Hampshire County Council


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INSPIRED

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CONNECTED

liz watson Chief Executive Befriending Networks

John welham Vice-Chair of Future Years, the YH Forum on Ageing Vice-Chair of Leeds Older People’s Forum (LOPF)

Janet whitehouse U3A Ambassador Third Age Trust/U3A

angela wild Public Health Programme Officer Tameside MBC

Claire williams Funding Manager – Ageing Better Big Lottery Fund

Tracey williamson Reader (Public Involvement, Engagement & Experience) University of Salford

moira wilkinson Regional Manager for London Carers Trust

heather woods Volunteer Coordinator The Link Visiting Scheme

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GET

CONNECTED

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Campaign to End Loneliness 3 Rufus Street London N1 6PE

For general queries, email us at [email protected] or call us on 020 7012 1409.

@EndLonelinessUK

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

the inaugural learning network conference

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