We worked together with older people and local organisations to tackle social isolation and loneliness among older people.

We are fortunate in Camden to have a vibrant borough, and a range of organisations working within the community. Ageing Better in Camden drew on the existing skills and talents within the local community to engage with older people and help tackle social isolation, loneliness, and reconnect people to their communities.

We have achieved this by using different approaches:

  • Our Outreach Team identified and supported the most socially isolated older people through Street Outreach and pop up events.

  • Community Connectors linked them with services, support and activities in the local area.

  • We worked with over 30 local partners who provide outstanding activities from art classes to Tai Chi, bench to bench walks to cabaret.

  • Our Older People’s Advisory Group helped shape the programme, and older people sat on our board, driving decision making and using their voice for change.

  • We partnered with Opening Doors, a UK national charity providing activities, events, groups, befriending, training, information and support services for older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT+) people.

  • We engaged a number of Community Action Projects, bringing together groups of local organisations to work in partnership. Our BAME and Bangladeshi Community Action Projects brought together smaller organisations to grow in strength through partnership and build connections within communities.

  • We ran the Camden Intergenerational Network, a network of 350 members across the voluntary and statutory sectors, arts, culture, academia and business. The Network will continue under Age UK Camden.

  • We committed ourselves to a ‘test and learn’ approach. Locally and nationally we share the ideas that make a real difference to older people facing social isolation.

What we have learnt, our research and legacy

In December 2021 our activities delivered by our partner organisations across the borough came to a close. Many partners are now using a hybrid approach of in-person, phone and digital to ensure everyone can get the social connection they need. You can contact them to get involved. Our programme closed on 31 March 2022, and we want to ensure that our learning and legacy live on. Find out more via our learning reports and research here.

Ageing Better Programme

Ageing Better was a programme set up by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK. Ageing Better aims were to develop creative ways for people aged over 50 to be actively involved in their local communities, helping to combat social isolation and loneliness. It is one of five major programmes set up by The National Lottery Community Fund to test and learn from new approaches to designing services which aimed to make people’s lives healthier and happier.

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