Cork Cultural Companions Programme: An Age and Opportunity Arts Initiative in Cork City and County

Description

Cork Cultural Companions Programme: An Age and Opportunity Arts Initiative in Cork City and County.

Introduction:
The Cork Cultural Companions programme is an Age and Opportunity Arts initiative delivered in Cork by Cork County Federation of Muintir na Tire. Supported by the HSE, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, with funding support fromCreative Ireland and Healthy Ireland, this community-driven programme aims to enhance cultural engagement, social inclusion, and community connections among older individuals in Cork.

Aims:
The primary aims of the Cork Cultural Companions programme is to help combat social isolation and promote cultural participation and social inclusion within the community, specifically targeting older adults of all backgrounds. By connecting participants with similar cultural interests, the programme creates a supportive network that encourages exploration, appreciation, and enjoyment of Cork’s cultural offerings. Additionally, the programme aims to break down barriers to participation, such as financial constraints, lack of social connections, and limited awareness of available cultural activities.

Target Group:
The Cork Cultural Companions programme has a particular focus on creating opportunities for older adults, aged 55+, to engage in cultural activities and events. Participants may include newcomers to the city, individuals who are socially isolated, people with limited mobility, and those seeking to expand their cultural horizons.

Stakeholders:
The success of the Cork Cultural Companions programme relies on the collaboration and support of various stakeholders, including:

Cork County Federation of Muintir na Tire: As the delivering organisation, Cork County Federation of Muintir na Tire plays a vital role in coordinating and implementing the programme’s activities, developing the programme in collaboration with the steering group and the members and ensuring its alignment with the overall objectives of Age and Opportunity arts initiatives.

HSE, Cork City Council, and Cork County Council: These key stakeholders through a steering committee, provide support to the programme, recognizing the importance of cultural engagement for community well-being and social inclusion. Their involvement helps to secure necessary resources and funding for the programme’s implementation. The programme receives funding from the HSE, Creative Ireland and Healthy Ireland, which enables the delivery of the programme in City and County.

How it Works:
1. Registration: Interested individuals can sign up for the programme online or through community group partnerships. During registration, participants provide their preferences, interests, and any specific requirements they may have.

2. Each member receives a monthly newsletter outlining the selected event for that month that Cultural Companions will attend together, along with highlighting a wide range of other events happening in the city and county.

3. The Cultural Companions directory allows members to connect with each other and network independently to attend events outside of the Cultural Companions calendar of events.

4. Cultural Outings: Participants attend a variety of events, from art exhibitions to concerts, theatre performances, heritage walks, and more. The programme provides information on upcoming events, discounted tickets, and any necessary support for participants with specific needs.

5. Members meetings: We hold regular members meetings in each hub to select upcoming events and to organise meet and greeters for upcoming events. Participants are encouraged to provide feedback on their experience. This feedback helps to improve the programme and ensures that participants’ needs are met, enhancing future cultural engagements.

Local Hubs:
To facilitate engagement and foster a sense of community, the Cork Cultural Companions programme operates through local hubs. To service the large geographical area of the county the programme aims to develop multiple local hubs of Cultural Companions.Currently these have been established in Cork City, in Mallow in North Cork and Bantry in West Cork. Local networks of members allow participants to engage with events local to them, negating the need for travelling long distances and building connections with their own local community.

Aim of Initiative

Aims:
The primary aims of the Cork Cultural Companions programme is to help combat social isolation and promote cultural participation and social inclusion within the community, specifically targeting older adults of all backgrounds. By connecting participants with similar cultural interests, the programme creates a supportive network that encourages exploration, appreciation, and enjoyment of Cork’s cultural offerings. Additionally, the programme aims to break down barriers to participation, such as financial constraints, lack of social connections, and limited awareness of available cultural activities.

Who is it aimed at

Target Group:
The Cork Cultural Companions programme has a particular focus on creating opportunities for older adults, aged 55+, to engage in cultural activities and events. Participants may include newcomers to the city, individuals who are socially isolated, people with limited mobility, and those seeking to expand their cultural horizons.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Stakeholders: The support of the steering committee for the programme including representative from the Health Service Executive, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, Cork City Council and Cork County Council’s Arts Offices, Library Service, Cork City and Cork County Age Friendly and Cork County Federation provided a ready network of contacts within the community and a wide range of services and events to utilise in the roll out of the programme.
2. Community buy-in:
   To get the support and engagement of the target audience for the programme, the Coordinator visits and presents to a wide array of Active Retirement groups, mens sheds, Age friendly meetings, HSE health promotion events and many more. Awareness raising of the project and meeting people in person to talk about how it works.Peer Support and Empowerment: Members play an integral part in developing the programme, selecting the calendar of events and volunteering within the programme as meet ‘n greeters and in other roles
3. Collaboration and networking:This has been an essential part of growing the initiative. Existing services like Alone and social prescribers/link workers refer clients to our programme. We have built partnerships with cultural organisations that provide discounted tickets and other special considerations for our members.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. The PandemicThe Cork Cultural Companions programme was established in 2019 with the group due to begin attending events in 2020. The pandemic directly impacted upon the two central pillars of the new initiative – all live entertainment was cancelled, and the target age cohort of the initiative was obliged to self-isolate.
   A range of events were delivered online from Tea and ballet to Pottery, participants reported how these allowed them to feel a sense of connection, control, freedom, and escape in an oppressive context marked by restriction, fear, and uncertainty.
   During this time Cork Cultural Companions worked with University College Cork to undertake research on the programme during Covid 19 restrictions. The study aimed to provide an evaluation of the COVID-Proofing Cultural Companions initiative in Cork City and County. The importance of tracking innovation and adaptation is important not only for evaluating what has been done but also for informing learning about what can be done in the future.
2. Post Covid Reluctance/ AnxietyThe reluctance of the older cohort to return to activities after the lifting of restrictions has been well reported. Health concerns, worries about covid, increased sense of frailty and social anxiety are self reported by members.
   By creating a safe and friendly space to re- engage with social activities we hope to overcome these challenges for members.
   The events selected are happening during daylight hours, members meet an hour before an event in an informal setting to have a cup of tea and get to know each other.
   CCC hosted a variety of social afternoons to relaunch the programme in 2022/23 across the city and county. These events were held in Library branches as they are a safe and welcoming environment for all, giving people the opportunity to learn about how the programme works in a welcoming and familiar setting.
3. Financial Constraints:
   In the current financial climate this can be a real consideration for members so we aim to select events that are free of charge or low cost. Alternatively the programme coordinator organises special discounts for members in collaboration with the venues and organisers.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Health and Wellbeing in Older Age
   Engagement in the arts, culture and sports is proven to be good for both mental wellbeing and physical health. The impact of participation in Cork Cultural Companions on wellbeing and mental health as well as social participation are being monitored through the Culture Call, the use of regular surveys, testimonials and other feedback mechanisms from
   Participants:
   A key outcome is a reported perceived positive increase in health and wellbeing and participation amongst members
2. Independent Networking
   Cultural Companion events and activities provide opportunities for participants to network independently of the programme e.g. Where two or more members discover a shared interest and organise to connect to attend other events in smaller groups or pairs via the Cultural Companions Directory i.e. WhatsApp group
   A key outcome is a reported increase in member’s participation in social activities within Cultural Companions and outside of the Cultural Companions Calendar of events.
3. Increased Opportunities to engage with the ArtsThe Cultural Companions programme in Cork has expanded the audience for arts and cultural events and increased opportunities for older people to engage with the vibrant cultural offerings in Cork, encouraging both creativity and social participation. 250+ members have attended events in Cork City and County since October 2022.

   Cork Cultural Companions members, with support from the programme coordinator, collaboratively develop a calendar of Cultural and Arts events to attend together monthly.