Programme: Monaghan
WHO Theme: Respect and Social Inclusion, Social Participation
Funding Stream: Unfortunately, we have received no funding towards the Wise & Well Social Club. We are fortunate that staff can be seconded from the CSP to facilitate the project. The cost of the activities are covered by attendee contributions and in 2024 we were fortunate, and honoured, to be awarded with a Digital Town Award Rising Star cash prize. That prize fund allowed us to bridge the gap and cover the cost of Wise & Well last year.
Resources Required: Financial, Paid Staff, Premises, Services
Cost: 5000 – 10000
Status: Ongoing
Description
Truagh Spirit, a community-led not-for-profit organisation, located in Co. Monaghan identified issues affecting older people in the border areas of north Co Monaghan as a priority. The post Covid environment has increased the need for impactful interventions to reduce social isolation and improve the quality of life of older people in this rural border area.
At the core of Truagh Spirit’s Wise & Well Social Club is a commitment to supporting older people to remain engaged, active, and fulfilled. We understand that a structured year-long schedule is pivotal to achieving this goal. Through the power of digital tools, we curate a dynamic calendar of events, activities, and workshops. The online schedule is easily accessible, allowing members and their loved ones to plan and participate in various events throughout the year. We also distribute hardcopies of the Wise & Well calendar of activities to older people, families, local school communities, social groups, the Primary Care team – this list is not exhaustive. In December each year we host a Recap and Planning Digital Coffee morning where we get older peoples’ input as to what should be on the schedule for the next year. For example, the idea of the Visit to Big Tom’s Grave followed by lunch in Castleblayney was one such suggestion. The older people came up with the idea and we made it a reality for them. This daytrip will take place in June of this year.
We regularly update our social media channels with photos and video clips of events and activities to showcase events, achievements, and shared moments. Friends and loved ones can easily keep up to date, ensuring a sense of connection even in the digital realm. Our goal is to use these platforms not only as notice boards but as windows into the heart of our community. The selfie-photo frames are particularly fun for older people, who enjoy taking selfies and being in selfies at special events. Grandchildren in particular enjoy seeing their older loved ones using new technologies.
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Truagh Spirit works with Transition year coordinators and Students to offer intergenerational workshops to enhance digital literacy for older people. From basic computer skills, taking selfies, using invaluable apps to social media navigation, we empower our community with the tools to connect, communicate, and explore the vast online landscape.
The Silver Screen is a collaboration with the Garage Theatre, Monaghan and TY coordinators and students from local secondary schools. The focus is on intergenerational appreciation of classic films as part of Social Inclusion Week followed by chats over tea/coffee and scones about the shared experience of watching a classic film. “White Christmas” was a big hit last year and there was much discussion afterwards about the fashion, the music and the hope that the war in Ukraine would soon end too.
The Wise & Well Social Club not only celebrates older people, friendship and community, it strengthens bonds between the generations creating a shared sense of belonging and accomplishment in our corner of north Monaghan
Aim of Initiative
The aim of the Wise & Well Social Club Project: to direct impactful interventions to reduce social isolation and improve the quality of life of older people in this rural border area thereby supporting older people to remain engaged, active, independent and fulfilled living within their own community.
Truagh Spirit, a community-led not-for-profit organisation, located in Co. Monaghan. In 2018, a LEADER funded needs analysis identified issues affecting older people in the border areas of north Co Monaghan as a priority for our organisation. The post Covid environment has increased the need for impactful interventions to reduce social isolation and improve the quality of life of older people in this rural border area. At the core of Truagh Spirit’s Wise & Well Social Club is a commitment to supporting older people to remain engaged, active, and fulfilled. We understand that a structured year-long schedule is pivotal to achieving this goal.
Who is it aimed at
Wise & Well is fully inclusive: it is aimed at older people in the north Co Monaghan areas. People attend from nursing homes, sheltered housing services for adults with additional needs, Errigal Truagh Special Needs day-care service and the wider community. We also regularly have people attend from as far a field as Co Louth! There is a demonstrable need for the Wise & Well Social Club
3 Steps critical to success
- The needs analysis highlighted the need among older people in the community
- Actively engaging with older people to ensure that their voices are heard and their ideas implemented in the development of the Wise & Well Social Club year long schedule of activities
- Finally the schedule of activities was planned, costed, published, marketed and launched with older people and their families in attendance
3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery
- Post Covid social isolation: prior to the Covid 19 pandemic there were 5 social clubs for older people in the north Monaghan areas. There are now only 2.
We invited older to participate in workshops and many came but some wanted us to visit them in their homes as they weren’t ready to come back out yet. - Rural transport: in spite of there being local link bus routes it is often not easy for older people to get out and about in rural areas. So for the digital mornings, local day trips and trips further afield we have to arrange transport otherwise a significant cohort of people would not be able to attend. This is an additional cost to the organisation
- Funding: the lack of funding streams for a project of this type. Fiona has to always keep an eye on the finances and lever support from private sector. For example, the owner of Combilift – a large indigenous corporate in Monaghan – hosted a visit by over 50 older people last year. They were welcomed to this state of the art building, given refreshments, guided tours and had a go driving a forklift.
3 Outcomes / Benefits
- Number of attendees: the Project launched in February 2024 and the key outcome then was the number of older people who would attend the Wise & Well Social Club throughout the year. We had workshopped the initial idea with older people as they are the key stakeholders.
Happily, in 2024 over 1,000 people between the ages of 60 and 95 attended Wise & Well activities including older people from nursing homes, sheltered housing for older people with additional needs, Errigal Truagh Special Needs day-care centre and the wider community - Intergenerational engagement: over 100 TY students attended intergenerational cultural activities with Wise & Well, fostering friendship and conversation, breaking down barriers through shared cultural experience
- Engagement and ownership: older people are the key stakeholders in Wise & Well. In December 2024 we workshopped again with older people over tea/coffee and mince pies and came up with some great ideas for the 2025 Wise & Well calendar of activities. We listened to what people wanted to do in 2025 and set about making it a reality. Attendees were proactive about making suggestions and voicing their ideas.