Ageing Well Torbay ultimately is a test and learn project – trying out methods and means of reducing loneliness and social isolation, and sharing the learning gathered.

Below are a series of reports and videos, reflecting on what has been learned, marking what worked well, where there was room for improvement, and what we may advise others to do if considering similar work.

Reports

Click on any of the reports to open as a PDF:

Short films and videos

We’ve had many stories shared with us over the years, and a few we’ve had the privilege to make into short films and videos, interviewing just some of Torbay’s residents whose past has led to such an influence on our programme.

About us

Ageing Well in Torbay

Connecting People

Torbay Community Helpline

Extension of Torbay Community Helpline

Torbay Community Helpline - A lifeline for Torbay

Befriending with Torbay Community Helpline

Shielding support with Torbay Community Helpline

Robbie's story

Barrie's story

Ann's story

Eric's story

Charlie's story

Ann's story

Shirley's story

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  About us

  In this film, we hear about the impact the Ageing Well Torbay programme has made on the lives of Barrie and Robbie, building connections between people out in the community.
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  Ageing Well in Torbay

  In this short film, we interviewed some of our friends from around Torbay about their experiences of Ageing Well in Torbay.
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  Connecting People

  Community Builder Nina Cooper tells us about Crafty Cuppa, held at Great Parks Community Centre, Paignton.
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  Torbay Community Helpline

  Torbay Community Helpline opened its lines to the public on March 16th 2020, shortly before the Covid-19 lockdown began in the UK. Initially named the Torbay Community Coronavirus Helpline, staff from VCSE and statutory organisations around the 'bay helped take hundreds of calls from the public, who were in desperate need of help due to being vulnerable or shielding, and/or were volunteering their services to help out. Thousands of calls and several months later, the helpline is still going strong, now aiming to continue on as a one-stop call for help from all of Torbay's community services. You can call the helpline on 01803 446022, 10am-6pm on weekdays, or 9:30am-12:30pm on Saturdays. An online form is also available at bit.ly/torbayhelpline
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  Extension of Torbay Community Helpline

  In this video, Tracey Cabache briefly explains the work that has gone into running the Torbay Community Helpline, and why this vital service will continue running for a longer period of time.
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  Torbay Community Helpline - A lifeline for Torbay

  Now having passed its one year anniversary, Torbay Community Helpline continues to strive to aid people around Torbay. Having initially started in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the helpline has constantly evolved to support the needs of local residents. The helpline will endeavour to continue on for as long as necessary. One call, that's all. Call 01803 446022 or go to bit.ly/torbayhelpline
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  Befriending with Torbay Community Helpline

  As part of the Torbay Community Helpline, we set up a telephone befriending service for those who were lonely or suffering with mental health issues. In this video, you'll hear from Jackie Coad, who was befriended by Teresa Cartwright. You'll also hear from Helen Harman, Chief Officer of Age UK Torbay, one of the organisations who helped us set up the Torbay Community Helpline in March 2020. Footage courtesy of BBC Spotlight, originally broadcast/recorded 2nd February 2021. If you require help or would like to volunteer with Torbay Community Helpline, phone 01803 446022 or use the online form: bit.ly/torbayhelpline
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  Shielding support with Torbay Community Helpline

  As part of the Torbay Community Helpline, our team of rapid responder volunteers deliver shopping, prescription medication, and other urgent supplies to vulnerable people who are shielding, and therefore unable to leave their homes. In this video, you'll hear from Dennis & Sylvia Carnaby, a shielding couple who have received help from volunteers such as James Arthur. Footage courtesy of BBC Spotlight, originally broadcast/recorded 24th March 2021. If you require help or would like to volunteer with Torbay Community Helpline, phone 01803 446022 or use the online form: bit.ly/torbayhelpline
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  Robbie's story

  This is Robbie's story - from first contact with the Ageing Well Torbay programme, to how far she's come today.
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  Barrie's story

  n this short film, we hear Barrie's story of meeting new people and making new friends after the loss of his wife. Barry, like many others in Torbay, has been put in contact with new friends through the Ageing Well Torbay programme.
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  Ann's story

  Part of a series of films directed by Nick Fogg for the 2015 Ageing Well Festival Torbay. Watch as Charlie, Ann, Shirley, Ann and Eric talk about their personal experiences of ageing in Torbay.
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  Eric's story

  Part of a series of films directed by Nick Fogg for the 2015 Ageing Well Festival Torbay. Watch as Charlie, Ann, Shirley, Ann and Eric talk about their personal experiences of ageing in Torbay.
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  Charlie's story

  Part of a series of films directed by Nick Fogg for the 2015 Ageing Well Festival Torbay. Watch as Charlie, Ann, Shirley, Ann and Eric talk about their personal experiences of ageing in Torbay.
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  Ann's story

  Part of a series of films directed by Nick Fogg for the 2015 Ageing Well Festival Torbay. Watch as Charlie, Ann, Shirley, Ann and Eric talk about their personal experiences of ageing in Torbay.
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  Shirley's story

  Part of a series of films directed by Nick Fogg for the 2015 Ageing Well Festival Torbay. Watch as Charlie, Ann, Shirley, Ann and Eric talk about their personal experiences of ageing in Torbay.

Next Steps

Through 2018 and 2019, we asked residents over 50 in Torbay “What do you wish you’d known before you retired?” and this is how a number of them responded, reflecting on challenges they’d faced, as well as the skills and knowledge they view as essential to ageing well.

Stronger Together – Festival of Learning 2021

In May 2021, Ageing Better programmes from around the UK were invited to share their learning at the Stronger Together – Festival of Learning, a three week-long virtual series of webinars and workshops on Zoom, open for all who were interested in learning about working with the community.

Ageing Well Torbay hosted five sessions on the week commencing 10th May 2021, the recordings of which are available to watch below:

Ice Creams & Seagulls: A Virtual Co-Production board game

An Introduction to Asset Based Community Development with Martin Simon

Harnessing Community Strengths: An ABCD approach to Co-Production

Co-production in a Crisis: Learning to Dance on a Shifting Carpet

Co-production in a Crisis: Creating a Lasting Legacy

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  Ice Creams & Seagulls: A Virtual Co-Production board game

  A fun & innovative Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Board Game, with Ageing Well Torbay's Game Show Host, followed by discussion groups led by Torbay’s Community Builders and Grassroots Activity Groups. Attendees learnt about how to make ABCD work, with Torbay's Community Builders and the people in their neighbourhoods, followed by Q & As with Torbay's activity group leaders, covering everything you've always wanted to know about setting up groups and activities in your community.
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  An Introduction to Asset Based Community Development with Martin Simon

  Tracey Cabache, Operations Director for Torbay Community Development Trust and Martin Simon, leading expert on Asset Based Community Development introduce ABCD as an approach, explaining what it is, and why it became an intrinstic part of the community development approach adopted by Ageing Well Torbay.
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  Harnessing Community Strengths: An ABCD approach to Co-Production

  Hosted by Simon Sherbesky, Strategic Director of Torbay Community Development Trust and Ageing Well Torbay, this workshop showcased the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, that has allowed the team in Torbay to successfully work with the communities around them for the past seven years.
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  Co-production in a Crisis: Learning to Dance on a Shifting Carpet

  A workshop in which Ageing Well Torbay provide interactive examples of complex calls taken on their Community Helpline and how co-production informed the response.
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  Co-production in a Crisis: Creating a Lasting Legacy

  Simon Sherbersky, Strategic Director for Torbay Community Development Trust, and Joanna Williams, Director of Adult Social Care for Torbay Council, discuss how Torbay is building on the Ageing Well Torbay Community Helpline response to Covid-19 to create a new front door for people in need across Torbay.

Stronger Together – A Co-production Toolkit

“If you’re using co-production to involve people in the design of services that impact them and their communities, then this toolkit is for you.”

This toolkit has been co-created with steering group representatives from across the Ageing Better network. Our aim was to develop a user-centred, one-stop resource for anyone looking to co-produce services or projects – let the co-producing begin!

Co-production has been at the very heart of Ageing Better’s work. The voices of older people have been involved within every aspect of our programme – from the setting up, dissemination, design, & delivery, through to the evaluation of services, projects & activities for people aged 50 and over.

Part of our legacy has been the development of an interactive Toolkit, a one-stop, user-friendly space where we can share our collective experiences across the last 6 years. Our extensive learning is brought to you through a beautifully illustrated PDF document that sets the scene, linking to hundreds of stories, tools and resources available at your fingertips.

The toolkit is organised into 12 distinct co-production themes:

• Creating a co-production culture
• Community development through micro-funding
• Tackling ageism through co-production & age-friendly communities
• Co-production within coastal & rural communities
• Tackling loneliness through co-commissioning
• Empowering communities through partnership working
• Co-researching within the community
• Growing sustainable groups
• Diversity& inclusion
• Creativity in co-production
• Asset-based community development
• Co-production in a crisis

If you are looking to use a co-production approach to involve people in the design of services, projects or activities that impact them and their communities, then this Toolkit is for you. Whether you’re just starting out with co-production, or looking to refine your methods to meet a specific challenge, you will find plenty of useful insights and inspiring stories in our Toolkit.

We wanted to bring to life the work of the Ageing Better programme in a way that can be accessed by anyone wanting to work with people in their communities, whether at a strategic, operational or grassroots level.

Here is our “about this toolkit” document to help you get to grips with how the Toolkit works, what you can expect to find within and the best way to find what you need in a way that works for you.

To access the toolkit, click here.