Age better in Sheffield (ABis) engages people aged over 50 to build social connections, improve well-being, and reduce loneliness and social isolation. The project is implemented by South Yorkshire Housing Association (SYHA) and co-produced with older people.
Project co-produced with older people
ABiS is wholly co-produced by people over 50 with personal or professional experience of loneliness and social isolation.
Older people sit as core partners alongside public health and academic experts. Therefore, they can influence the policy-making process; their lived experience contributes to the design, delivery, evaluation, and ultimate success of the programme and related initiatives.
They sit on the Core Partnership, a governing board, making decisions about programme design and delivery, including:
- Co-governance– representatives have equal voice and influence in how the programme is delivered;
- Co-commissioning– joint decision-making on funding and evaluating programme activities;
- Co-delivery– close collaboration with the programme’s delivery partners who are testing new interventions to reduce isolation and loneliness;
- Co-evaluation– support from a range of representatives with a background in research and evaluation.
Advising on local services
Through the Core Partnership, older people can question and advise representatives from organisations and services across Sheffield. These include the local authority, Sheffield 50+, NHS, Clinical Commissioning Group, Public Health, Sheffield Hallam University, the Private Sector, the Voluntary Community and Faith Sector, and South Yorkshire Housing Association.
Find out more
To find out more on this project co-produced with older people, please reach out to the Secretariat. If you are not yet a member of Eurhonet, find out how to join us.
