Service Helps Older People Stay Well During Winter

Aireborough Voluntary Services to the Elderly (AVSED) is one of 37 Neighbourhood Network Schemes working across Leeds to promote independence and tackle loneliness and isolation for people aged over 60.

Through a Stay Well This Winter Grant, they were able to provide an outreach project that used the learning, volunteers and understanding from their existing services and those developed during the pandemic to seek out, identify and support the most vulnerable residents in their community.

 

• Can you describe your organisation and the people/communities you support?

Our Scheme covers Aireborough in the northwest of the city, including Guiseley, Rawdon, Yeadon. Winter is a difficult time for many people, particularly those who are older, have health concerns and those living alone, and the pandemic has exasperated issues this year.

We offer various activities and services to help our members live happily in their homes for as long as possible and stay connected to their community with social groups, in-home support and guidance as needed.

 

• How have you been supported by Leeds Community Foundation and what has this funding enabled you to do? 

 

Our “Winter Done Well” project was a 6-month targeted intervention to ensure everyone in the community had good up to date information and advice on keeping themselves well over the cold months and details of how to get support when needed.

The support from Leeds Community Foundation allowed us to produce a leaflet that was delivered to 15,000 homes and businesses in the area, packed with helpful hints, tips and advice. We asked neighbours to be winter warriors and look out for anyone on their street who may need a helping hand. Our staff team were on hand to support residents in various ways from help with hot food, warm clothing and heating the home. We also provided bespoke support depending on need to anyone who was adversely affected by the cold weather and directly helped over 200 residents.

 

• Can you give us an example of an individual and or group and how they have responded to this work?

The project allowed us to reach every resident in the area – over 150 people came forward to be Winter Warriors, highlighting many people needing support. We signposted for help with heating homes, finances, medication and saw numerous residents join AVSED for ongoing support throughout the year. The legacy of this project is a database of warriors we can call upon each winter going forward and each year we can grow and evolve the support on offer.

 

• What challenges and opportunities do you face as an organisation in the current climate?

The need for our services is on the rise – whilst funding streams are in decline. We are having to stretch our resources to ever more people in need. We are always in need of sustainable long-term funding for our core work to allow regular support to be available.

We have had a tremendously difficult time people’s needs, aims and abilities have changed, emotions are high with anxiety and mental health increasing over the pandemic – resulting in a further need for services not only to provide social amenities but to provide support and assistance to overcome barriers heightened during the pandemic.

 

• How is your organisation preparing for the future, and what kind of funding is needed?

We have used the past 18 months to re-evaluate the needs of our community and look at the services we offer and what service gaps there are for older people locally. We are embracing a period of change and reorganisation, specifically looking into services for people around mental health and dementia and thinking about how we can work collaboratively with others in the community.