Time to Shine Presentation originally developed by Rachel Koivunen- Programme Manager ‘Time to Shine’. Adapted for LCC ASC. With the permission of Leeds Older People’s Forum and in particular Rachel, we have adapted the following presentation to demonstrate how Leeds have worked in partnership and supported the development of the Time to Shine project specifically created to tackle loneliness and isolation experienced by older people in Leeds. When I refer to ‘we’ in the presentation, this does not mean specifically LCC ASC, but the whole partnership approach.

Out of the Shadows: Time to Shine LOPF title ‘time to shine’ came about from discussion with older people about the experience of loneliness and isolation. Out of the shadows captures the ethos that no longer should older people shy away from the limelight, but should be supported to embrace new opportunities to be involved and have their time to enjoy life and live their lives to the full. Out of the Shadows: Time to Shine “Friendships, offering shared experiences and memories, stimulation and fun, lit up people’s stories of their everyday lives; their absence left a sense of emptiness and shadow”.

What is Time to Shine? Big Lottery Fund Fulfilling Lives: Ageing Better “Older people in Leeds need not experience loneliness and isolation as an inevitable consequence of ageing … our project will offer opportunities for fulfilment by breaking down barriers and building strong communities.” The Big Lottery recently introduced a new funding programme called Fulfilling Lives that aims to support older people who are socially isolated. Leeds were successful in their bid and LOPF were the lead organisation who received the funding and have overall responsibility and accountability for the project. Having said this, the Time to Shine approach is was developed as a partnership approach across the voluntary, private and public sector. At the very heart of the project older people have the main influence over decision making and development of the project. The Time to Shine project will receive £1m a year for the next six years to establish new services across the city that will keep older people in touch with their communities and out of the grip of social isolation.

The Time to Shine project is very much a collaborative and professionals and individuals representing older people across the city come together in the Core Partnership to develop the project. A Wider partnership also meet to make sure that the project reaches all citizens, communities and organisations in Leeds. This approach fosters individuality, innovation and creativity with a diverse and rich mix of views experience and knowledge.

The need The project identified the gaps in current service provision and those at greatest risk of social isolation and loneliness. A mixed method of international and local literature reviews, asset mapping by ward, consultations and data analysis. As a result ‘most at risk’ were: Restricted to their home environment (including care homes) through ill-health, disability and dementia, Carers, Living alone, coping with personal circumstances which reduce their social networks and confidence (e.g. bereavement, retirement, poverty). Those whose social/cultural needs are not fully met:- men, BME elders, Learning Disabled and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender seniors. The vision was developed by a cross-sector Core (18 members) and Wider (68 members) Partners and is based on consultations with 863 older people, carers, community workers and decision-makers across the city. “Our vision is that older people in Leeds need not experience loneliness and isolation as an inevitable consequence of ageing but that our project will offer opportunities for fulfilment by breaking down barriers and building strong communities” These ‘target groups’ were highlighted as specific area of need during the consultation and involvement stages of project development. During the first round of commissioning, potential providers were asked how they would reach these target groups. The response received were very encouraging and demonstrated a great deal of vision and hindsight into how these target groups would benefit from their particular services.

The Strategy The project will provide personalised activities; acting at individual, neighbourhood and city-wide levels, across all sectors to build circles of support. We will develop preventative social networks, as well as supporting lonely people out of isolation.  Valuing older people’s strengths and enabling mutual support are crucial. “Our strategy is to optimise use of our assets as a platform to work deeper and wider” A great deal of work was completed in preparation for the big lottery application. Involvement and consultation with older people, VCF, private, public and other key stakeholders to ensure we had grasped the key factors around L&I. We built on existing research, strategies, projects, consultation, demand analysis and a whole range of information to ensure we had the most accurate and useful information to inform the development of the project.

Themes   CATALYSTS to change societal attitudes and behaviors towards older people by promoting an age-friendly city; raising awareness that loneliness is “everybody’s business”. CONNECTIONS with older people from street level up within local neighborhoods and across services, businesses and communities, creating wider, stronger networks. CREATING SUPPORT and friendships at home and helping people to get out; offering weekend/evening activities; focusing on those currently excluded and extending digital and transport opportunities. CAPACITY BUILDING Small funds will be accessible via a bidding process by any third sector organisation looking to increase their capacity to reach socially isolated older people. It is anticipated that this could include recruitment and support of volunteers to reach socially isolated older people, pilot projects that use new approaches to reaching and including socially isolated older people and training to reach specific Time to Shine target. CO-PRODUCTION:- older people will manage, design activities and engage in development, evaluation and dissemination of learning. A local evaluation of the project will engage older people as researchers, using data to inform service development, sharing learning with commissioners to influence system change. The themes were developed in accordance with the research and consultation and these themes inform how we approach the commissioning of services. Catalysts - Endorsed by the Big Lottery a key mantra of the approach is ‘test and learn’. So that when we work together to be catalysts to change, we have the opportunity to do so with a flair for innovation and creativity that may have been stifled with a more risk aversive approach. Creating support – we didn’t want to commission more of the same, research identified what activities and projects would be most beneficial for the success of the project. Capacity building - target groups were identified through the consultation and involvement prior to submitting to the Big Lottery. A strong emphasis was placed on how volunteers are a valued asset of the project – we have never underestimated the time and commitment volunteers provide and we are working hard to ensure volunteers, like older people are at the heart of the project. Co-production – older people are involved in every stage of the process and any commissioning activity is strongly built around this. Evaluation – as well as national data evaluation, the key message of ‘test and learn’ acknowledges the importance of local data information to ensure outcomes are met and if not why and we learn to get better at everything we do.

Delivery Partners Commissioned 16 projects so far Committed £1,082,900 in the first two years We have provided some hand outs on the very exciting projects that we have commissioned in the first stage of this commissioning process.

We have also provided a snap shot of some of the issues and successes of the ‘test and learn’ approach captured at a delivery partner forum.