Social Experimentation Project Unlocking The Potential of People Over 50 in Herefordshire A 2 year Programme May 2010 – April 2012

Challenges to be Addressed Growing Numbers of unemployed people over 50 in Herefordshire Hidden Cohort not claiming benefits but on low income Need for alternative employment/diversification Less local opportunities Poor Accessibility to information and services Poor Transportation high cost of living Demographic imbalance

The Target Area Leominster City of Hereford Ross on Wye Rural Communities to the west of A49 & A438 ( 5 Mile radius of Hereford and Leominster )

Task To increase opportunities and engagement of people over 50 in rural areas Process Series of focus groups across designated areas Establishment of 2 Project Groups ( Peterchurch and Kington ) Establishment of 2 Control Groups ( Pan Area ) Regular and Agreed Programme of Meeting with Ongoing Evaluation

Partner Organisations – Local Steering Group PiscesWM – Herefordshire Office – Programme Manager University of Staffordshire – Evaluators The Herefordshire Council Hereford College of Technology Age Concern – Herefordshire Community First Herefordshire Chamber of Commerce Job Centre Plus L.S.C. Rural Media Company – Over The Hill Project Parish & Town Councils N.F.U

Programmes Meeting – Prague – May 26 th – 28 th Focus Meetings – Kington – 8 th June Canon Pyon – 15 th June Madley – 22 nd June Peterchurch – 29 th June Pontrilas – 6 th July ( Subject to local commitment ) July - Completion of Baseline Study July – September – Selection of Project Groups - Programme of Engagement & Goal Setting Individual Assessments Ongoing Evaluation

For Further Information John White – Project Manager PiscesWM c.i.c. Sarnia Second Avenue Ross on Wye Herefordshire HR9 7HT Tel : 0044(0) / 0044(0) Contact