Ardwick Age Friendly Walkabouts

Two age friendly walks hosted in Ardwick, with Forever Manchester, throughout Summer 2021.

Aim

This project aimed to encourage older residents to get out into Ardwick again as lockdown started to lift. We targeted residents who had been active before lockdown, but were feeling nervous about reconnecting with others again.

Location

Ardwick

Benefits of Exercise

Exercise is beneficial for both physical and mental health. In adults, exercise has a positive impact on numerous chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, whilst in older adults it has been shown to help prevent falls. Physical activity improves mental wellbeing across all ages, including for people with disabilities. Physical activity can also deliver cost savings to the health and care system by reducing preventable illness thus demand on services.

Benefits of social activities

Connecting with others is one of the Five Ways to Wellbeing, five evidence-based actions which can improve personal wellbeing. Social connectedness has a strong positive impact on both physical and mental health. Increased social connectedness is linked to reduced mortality risk, healthier lifestyles and higher cognitive functioning. Socially well-connected people are more resilient, feel more able to take charge of their lives and less stressed. Older adults that are socially connected experience increased life satisfaction.

Testimonies

“I’ve lived here for 10 years now and never considered going into Victoria Baths. I’m really glad we did.”

Evaluation

Residents who took part in the walks came away with more knowledge about their local area and the services available to them.

In the first walk in May, there were 14 walkers, despite the pouring rain. As a result of attending the walk, two walkers were able to benefit from the Windowsill to Wok project buzz were planning.

As a result of the second walk in June, a resident now volunteers in the office of Victoria Baths. By coming on the walk they realised how close Victoria Baths was to their home, and they then applied for the role and got the position.

Project Team

buzz Manchester Health & Wellbeing Service

Forever Manchester

Age Friendly Network

Residents

Strategic links to local/national policies (Exercise)

Benefit	Policy
Helping people live healthier lives	Healthy Lives, Healthy People (MH Government, 2010) Fair Society, Healthy Lives (Institute of Health Equity, 2010) The Manchester Locality Plan – A Healthier Manchester Manchester Health and Wellbeing Strategy Manchester Prevention Programme
Increased mental wellbeing	Manchester Health and Wellbeing Strategy Greater Manchester Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
Reducing avoidable illness/death	NHS Five Year Forward View (Department of Health, 2014). The Manchester Locality Plan – A Healthier Manchester Manchester Population Health Plan
Helping people age well	Taking Charge of our Health and Social Care in Greater Manchester (GMCA, 2015) Manchester Health and Wellbeing Strategy Manchester Population Health Plan

Research/evidence base

Department of Health and Social Care (2019) - UK Chief Medical Officers' Physical Activity Guidelines 2019

Public Health England (2016) - Health matters: getting every adult active every day

Public Health England (2018) - Physical activity for general health benefits in disabled adults:

Summary of a rapid evidence review for the UK Chief Medical Officers’ update of the

physical activity guidelines.

Sherrington C, Fairhall NJ, Wallbank GK, Tiedemann A, Michaleff ZA, Howard K, Clemson L, Hopewell S, Lamb SE. (2019) Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD012424.

Sport England (2017) - Review of evidence of the outcomes for sport and physical activity: A rapid evidence review

Strategic links to local/national policies (social activities)

Benefit	Policy
Social inclusion	Manchester Population Health Plan NHS Five Year Forward View (Department of Health, 2014)
Enabling resilient communities	Greater Manchester Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
Increased mental wellbeing	Manchester Health and Wellbeing Strategy Greater Manchester Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
Helping people live healthier lives	Healthy Lives, Healthy People (MH Government, 2010) The Manchester Locality Plan – A Healthier Manchester Manchester Health and Wellbeing Strategy Manchester Prevention Programme