Age Concern: Renew You Project

In 2008, Age Concern and the Deaf Cultural Centre teamed up with an innovative pilot project for art, crafts, dance and exercises to be experienced and enjoyed by deaf and hard of hearing elders in the West Midlands.

The Renew You Project was created to encourage the elders recreate their acquired skills and learn new skills in a variety of mediums at fortnightly sessions over a period of 6 months.

"The project was all about meeting new people in a fun and relaxed environment. At the start of the New Year, people can fall back into the same routines they have always had, some of which can be quite isolating - especially for deaf and hard of hearing older people.

The Renew You Project gave them a new opportunity to break those routines and many of them found new hobbies and interests." commented Robin Ash, Community Development Manager at the Deaf Cultural Centre.

Both Age Concern and the Deaf Cultural Centre recognise the importance of keeping active and having strong social networks that people can feel a part of. "The benefits it brought are there for all to see, especially for those that took part. Why be at home when you can be out having a good time?" continued Robin.

Many of them, in their 70s and 80s, enjoyed drawing, painting, card-making and even took part in belly-dancing which brought excitement! They also felt that the exercise sessions, favourites of which were the chair exercises and tai chi, benefited them very much both mentally and physically.

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