gateways schemes...
Gateways Schemes
6 of the Neighbourhood Network Schemes will be acting as ‘Gateways’ to promote the LinkAge Plus Information store to older people in their area. They will be recruiting and supporting older volunteers to encourage their peers to use this facility to access information and services. The schemes – one in each of the five geographical ‘wedges’ and one city-wide – will build on their existing work in their communities to explore effective ways of ensuring that all older people have access to the support which is available to them.
East Leeds
Action for Gipton Elderly will work with groups across the community including some at evenings and weekends to introduce them to the information store. Members of these groups will be trained as 'signposter/information givers' in these groups, so that they can encourage older people to use the information store and direct them towards additional help if they need it. Publicity and information about the Information Store will be distributed on posters, cards etc around the area. The scheme will build upon the long-standing community links and knowledge which AGE has to ensure that all older people in the area know where to turn to for information and support.
North East Leeds
Moor Allerton Elderly Care will be using their premises as the 'Gateway' location for their area. By publicising the scheme widely throughout the community, people will be encouraged to go along to sessions to make enquiries and find out more. The facility will also be made available to groups by encouraging members to learn to use the technology and to then be able to share this knowledge and help others to access information. This will improve links with these organisations and increase local people’s access to their services. MAECare will be recruiting a group of older people to volunteer as Gateway facilitators/peer mentors for the scheme.
North West Leeds
Older Active People plan to develop their existing information service by setting up new surgeries in three local libraries and using the Information Store to support the outreach work that they deliver in a range of community venues. The project will link with neighbouring groups, including groups for BME elders, to ensure that local elders in this diverse community have access to the activities available to them.
South Leeds
Belle Isle Elderly Winter Aid, probably the 'oldest' network scheme in the city will be developing a strategic outreach programme with their gateway project. The project will be widely advertised in the area and the online information store will be taken to working men's clubs, housing offices and older people's homes. In order to provide the widest possible access for people, regular sessions will be held at their offices where older people will be helped to access information from the website, a telephone line will be staffed at specified times and where necessary older people may be visited at home.
West Leeds
Armley Helping Hands are taking a 'whole community' approach to their Gateway project, linking up with local businesses, schools, community groups, other voluntary and statutory organisations and recruiting peer mentors to help to run the scheme. The project will be looking at information giving in its broadest sense, exploring a wide range of potential routes which older people may take to find out about what is available to them. This includes a community loyalty card, a dvd, information stalls, an improved web page and intergenerational work
City Wide
Leeds Jewish Care Services will be providing a service via their landmark community centre in Leeds 17. The service will be available to all older people in the area. An enthusiastic group of volunteers will be trained to help people to access the information store at regular 'open surgeries' . Older people will be encouraged and supported to attend the sessions through the existing extensive networks which the community has and by exploring and developing new links.
Leeds Older People's Forum
