“In a National competition, with fantastic entries from every county, it was a great honour for Westmeath Community Development to be representing Westmeath, with our ‘Live Longer and Prosper’ programme, in the category of ‘Age Friendly Communities’ at the IPB Pride of Place awards ceremony. It was a wonderful opportunity to see all of the other nominees from projects all across the country, who are so dedicated to making their communities better places for all.
To place Runner up, is such an achievement for us, and great recognition for this programme, that has been so impactful for its attendees.
Live Longer and Prosper is unique programme designed to support older persons living in rural communities across Westmeath. With the support of funding under SICAP(Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme) and Healthy Ireland, this programme is delivered directly within communities by a local development company- Westmeath Community Development. It Primarily targets members who are living alone and may be experiencing social isolation, as well as members of Active Retirement groups. The programme focuses on three key areas, activity, education and social engagement. Participants enjoy a diverse range offerings, including musical entertainment, tailored exercise sessions, IT training and informative talks on topics such as healthy eating, general wellbeing and support services. By combining meaningful activities with opportunities for social interaction, The Live Longer and Prosper Programme has demonstrated a significant positive impact on both the mental and physical health of its participants. In addition, it also supports accessibility and inclusivity for older persons in their own communities. The programme ran for 5 weeks in 5 rural venues across the county this year, and feedback and attendance were fantastic. The programme will be in its 5th year heading into 2026, with new venues chosen each year to host.
