Drive to reduce numbers of lonely older people in Manchester

A blueprint aimed at tackling loneliness among Manchester’s older people is under the spotlight at the council’s Citizenship and Inclusion Overview and Scrutiny Committee today (Wednesday July 18th).

High levels of pensioner poverty, social exclusion and poor health have been shown to be factors leading to older people feeling lonely and isolated.

Manchester City Council's aim is to prevent social exclusion before it occurs, and reduce the impact when it does, the overall strategy being to improve the quality of life for older people, through the Valuing Older People programme.

Manchester's preventive work with older people is focused around the Partnership for Older People Projects (POPPS), a two year Department of Health funded scheme which has led to the establishment of 30 new services and funding for a further 17 voluntary groups. POPPS supports the Gateway service- a single point of access for information and support to navigate through the different services, schemes and groups available across the city.

POPPS also funds a number of befriending schemes offering regular visits from volunteers; funds neighbourhood care groups and supports the voluntary sector. Services focussed on addressing isolation and loneliness include the provision of community resource centres, which can provide a focus and central points for activities in the community.

The council also runs a community-based leisure programme for older people and provides learning opportunities through Manchester Adult Education Service, Manchester libraries and the voluntary sector.

Councillor Val Stevens, deputy leader of Manchester City Council said: "Manchester aims to be a wholly inclusive city where everyone, regardless of age and income can live a fuller life. Manchester's work in setting up befriending schemes, supporting local voluntary projects and providing access to community centres is having a real impact on loneliness in the city. We will continue to develop this work to ensure that Manchester's older population continues to feel supported and cared for in the wider community."

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