The Mobile Me project has initially been funded by Sport England’s Get Healthy Get Active initiative, with match funding also being received from Norfolk Public Health and NHS Norwich CCG.
The project offers physical activity interventions to residents of sheltered housing and residential care settings across Norwich and the Broadland District area, with an aim to explore the impact this can have upon both mental and physical health, specifically looking at reducing sedentary and inactive behaviour, fall prevention, as well as social isolation and loneliness.
The project evaluation is being conducted in partnership with the UEA, with the final report due to be published in September 2018. The project is taking place over an initial 3 year period, with an aim to normalise physical activity as part of the culture for older people living in the accomodations we are working with, and also use activity as a tool to link residents with their local communities. The project will predominantly focus on the over 65’s and is designed to address barriers to participation within this age group. Each programme runs over an initial 10 week period, where residents will be able to enjoy activities such as Bowls, Table Tennis and New Age Kurling, to name a few. Equipment and a method of sustaining resident’s involvement is then left in place, with Active Norfolk following up at 6 months and 12 months, to see if residents are still participating in activity and provide additional support if necessary.
- So far we have delivered the project in 52 schemes, engaging over 650 residents, with 94% of them having a disability and/or long term health condition.
- Working in partnership with 7 different housing associations:
- Circle Housing
- Norse Care
- Norwich City Council
- Anchor Housing
- Cotman Housing
- Hannover Housing
- Housing & Care 21
Anecdotally we have found that residents most commonly report on the impact Mobile Me has had upon social isolation and mental wellbeing. With this feedback in mind and being aware of the effects loneliness can have upon health, Mobile Me has been delivered in a way that will encourage social interaction and a community based atmosphere, which can be seen in some examples below. This approach has led to Mobile Me being awarded Norfolk County Council’s ‘In Good Company plus kitemark’, which is an award to recognise extraordinary work to combat against loneliness.
To coincide with the Women’s tour coming to Norfolk, Mobile Me delivered a number of cycling themed reminiscence sessions. Throughout the sessions residents enjoyed sharing memories of previously owned bikes, whether this be from childhood or previous employment, for example. As well as hearing all about the tour and the route, and of course trying out some adapted cycling of their own, on our seated exercise pedal bikes.
Christmas tournaments between schemes provide an opportunity for residents to widen their social network, and have proven to be very popular, with some schemes continuing to have weekly fixtures against each other, which helps sustain resident’s involvement in activities.
The importance of Mobile Me to residents can also be highlighted by two schemes playing a memorial match of bowls for a resident who was a keen member of their Mobile Me group. The day itself proved to be a lovely way to honour a lovely lady, with a number of Betty’s family attending, and they as well as Betty’s fellow residents expressed how they found it a comfort in a difficult time. Highlighting an unconventional way in how Mobile Me has impacted upon residents, and how important it has become to them.
To coincide with National Older People’s Day, Active Norfolk host an annual Mobile Me festival at the UEA Sportspark, with residents who have taken part in Active Norfolk’s Mobile Me programme coming together for a sports day, and a group lunch. It also provides an opportunity for residents to access further information from our wider partners, such as Age UK, who hosts stalls on the day. There has been 3 festivals to date, and they are proving to be very popular with residents.
The Mobile Me project has certainly raised the profile of the benefits of physical activity for older adults within the county, with several partner organisations such as Cotman Housing and Age UK Norwich submitting bids to Sport England based on their experiences with Mobile Me, and Norwich CCG part funding with Active Norfolk a dance based fall prevention programme, due to the successes of Mobile Me. Further noteworthy impact includes:
Norse Care strategy pilot – As a method of sustaining Mobile Me sessions, post the research project, we have been working with one of the project delivery partners to build physical activity into their organisational strategy/structure, which has led Norsecare to appoint an exercise and wellbeing co-ordinator, and investing over £30,000 in equipment and training for staff to support with delivery.
Age UK Norwich - Mobile Me is working in partnership with Age UK Norwich’s Agewise project, supporting Age UK Norwich to establish a community based Mobile Me group, as well as a volunteer programme to facilitate Mobile Me activities at schemes, with volunteers initially shadowing our instructor and then continuing the facilitation of sessions once the 10 week programme has been completed