Scheme Name:

Rookie Golf

Key objectives of scheme:

Rookie Golf is a lively activity that promotes health through gentle exercise, social inclusion through teamwork, and plenty of fun! Through Rookie Golf we hope to:

- Improve wellbeing and quality of life for older people

- Improve community cohesion

- Tackle social isolation issues

- Deliver health benefits through activity

Promote understanding and respect between people of different ages, cultures and backgrounds.

- Form links between established groups of people

- Increase opportunities for intergenerational work

- Increase opportunities for multi-cultural work

Support delivery of YHN's objectives for Support & Care To Communities and "3-star" Excellent Services.

- Add value for existing tenants and customers

- Build on relationships between Sheltered Housing schemes

- Increase access to information and services

Approximate costs involved in scheme:

£14000 for 9 groups including equipment hire, 18 hours of taster sessions and coaching, at least 2 matches, and sufficient time to support the formation and training of constituted bodies for each of the 9 groups involved for funding applications and events organisation.

This also includes one intergenerational festival for 9 groups, plus 45 hours of coaching for local schoolchildren to be involved, and training for CSV volunteers to support and develop the activities in each group.

Costs also include the evaluation and reporting of participation.

Approx £3200 for equipment paid by Frank Haslam Milan to support the ongoing development of the activity after Rookie Sports' contracted involvement.

Partners organisations involved:

Your Homes Newcastle, Quality Of Life Partnership (including their "Active Ageing" programme), Newcastle Primary Care Trust, and Adult & Culture Services at Newcastle City Council.

The programme is delivered by Rookie Sports and Community Service volunteers.

Equipment is sponsored by Frank Haslam Milan.

Length of time scheme has been running:

Since May 2009

Key Benefits of Scheme:

Participants are reporting improved wellbeing, confidence and enjoyment.
Both older people and school children have thoroughly enjoyed joint events so far and report improved perceptions of their counterparts. Some are extending invitations to one another for other activities and events.
Sheltered housing schemes involved are now coming together for other activities as a result of the relationships they established through Rookie Golf.
Other members of the community are now getting involved in Rookie Golf at the invitation of the groups.
Demand for Rookie Golf is rapidly increasing in other areas of the city and new groups are coming together with project groups to play entirely of their own accord.

Contact name for further information:

Lewis Kirkbride

Contact telephone number:

0191 278 8695

Contact email:

Lewis.kirkbride@yhn.org.uk

Scheme Name:

Bowls for All

Key objectives of scheme:

To address Anti Social Behaviour problems on local estates by improving relationships between people from different generations.

To challenge the negative stereotypes that each generation has about the other - especially the preconceived idea that elderly people are immobile and housebound.

To use sport as a 'common ground' between young and old.

To challenge the negative connotations of the sport by introducing two schools into a structured but enjoyable programme of activity. Prior to the scheme the young people described bowls as 'marbles for old people' and we hoped that this perception would change.

Approximate costs involved in scheme:

£1000

Partners organisations involved:

- West Denton Community Association (Indoor Bowls Club)

- Walbottle Campus Technology College

- All Saints College

Length of time scheme has been running:

The project ran for two months from January to March 2009 and will be continued over a similar time scale in 2010.

Key Benefits of Scheme:

Improved community cohesion as the perception that each generation had about the other considerably improved throughout the project and relationships and bonds developed.

The young people involved in the project now have a different opinion of the older people living on their estate. The older generations were perceived as being 'Angry' and 'Inactive' but now the young people describe them as 'Talented' and 'Canny'.

The young people started to really enjoy the sport and a number of them have returned to the club to continue their participation. This ensures that the young people will continue to interact with the older players and the relationships will continue to develop.

The scheme has provided exposure for the Bowls Club and for the sport of bowls. It is hoped that this will have a positive effect and new members, young and old, will take up the opportunity to participate in structured physical activity.

Contact name for further information:

Stuart Clarke

Contact telephone number:

0191 2788721

Contact email:

stuart.clarke@yhn.org.uk