Community Connectors and volunteers reached out to people at one-to-one level. Older people were assisted to find their common interests and offered new relevant activities.

End of project report

Connected with professionals such as GPs, memory support teams, community matrons and more, to reach older people living with frailty, in need of an extra level of support to socialise and participate in their community.

View website

End of project report
Additional report
Additional report 2

Helped older people to get online for the first time, supporting learners in their home and over the phone. Community digital tea parties introduced learners to each other – in person or via Skype – and helped unlock the mystery of the web.

View website

End of project report
Additional report
Additional report 2

Volunteers offered support and a reassuring presence for up to 12 weeks to help older people get out and about on foot, mobility scooter or public transport, and worked towards achieving this goal together.

View website

End of project report

Aimed at keeping the 50-70 age group connected to their local community while maintaining independence.

View website

Connected with professionals such as GPs, memory support teams, community matrons and more, to reach older people living with frailty, in need of an extra level of support to socialise and participate in their community.

View website

End of project report

Used the resources of the Leeds canals to engage socially isolated people to get them out on the boats, learning new skills and creating social connections.

View website

Academic research looking at the approaches of TTS delivery partners to see which worked well. The evidence is being shared with local funders and decision makers for the future. The Volunteer Listeners Project, led by an older person, invited volunteers to help gather stories and experiences of people involved across Time to Shine.

End of project report
Additional report

Reaches out to a number of different groups of carers to provide support and bring people together for social activities.

View website

Steered by local older people and supported by a team of volunteers, Community Hubs offered a varied programme of activities where older people came together regularly to socialise, learn and have fun. The first phase of the project saw great success in Swillington, Scholes, Thorner and East Keswick.

View website

End of project report

Continuing the work of the first phase of the project, this second phase saw the expansion of the project to set up new hubs in rural South Leeds.

View website

End of project report
Additional report
Additional report 2

Single people able to travel independently shared a table at a local restaurant for a self-funded meal, hosted by an older volunteer. Volunteers were matched with older people who couldn’t easily leave their homes to prepare and eat a meal together at home.

View website

End of project report
Additional report

An expansion of More than a Mealtime. Supported the creation of similar schemes in other areas of Leeds, passing on what was learnt so that more people can benefit from this successful project.

View website
Additional report
Additional report 2

Connected with professionals such as GPs, memory support teams, community matrons and more, to reach older people living with frailty, in need of an extra level of support to socialise and participate in their community.

View website

End of project report

Range of activities to engage socially isolated older people, focusing on Black African Caribbean or Eastern European groups. Included walking together, evening and weekend social groups, cook and eat clubs and IT classes.

View website

Volunteer befrienders linked with isolated older residents to provide support and encouragement to get out of the house, with goals including walking to see friends, attending social groups, visiting local shops or going to appointments.

View website

End of project report

One-to-one support for people, focusing on Black African Caribbean or Eastern European groups. Also employed an Occupational Therapist to work alongside the team and help people overcome barriers.

View website

With a hub in South Leeds, and several satellite centres around the city, the project aimed to reach African, Caribbean and Eastern European communities, to offer a variety of short courses, craft, art, mindfulness and IT.

View website

Identified the barriers that older people with learning disabilities have in developing meaningful social relationships and asked how they would like to tackle their isolation and loneliness.

View website
Additional report
Additional report 2

Connected with professionals such as GPs, memory support teams, community matrons and more, to reach older people living with frailty, in need of an extra level of support to socialise and participate in their community.

View website

End of project report

Chinese elders came together to share a meal and stayed on for social activities, games, exercise and entertainment, supported by a team of bilingual volunteers from local Chinese communities.

View website

End of project report
Additional report
Additional report 2

Welcomed people into various Elders’ Networks for activities which were fun, sociable, culturally-appropriate and sensitive to the needs of older people. The programme of activities was designed by older people and supported by bilingual staff and volunteers.

View website

End of project report
Additional report

Volunteers visited older people of Irish heritage in their homes to make sure they could stay connected as they reached later life. Support was offered to help people get involved in social and cultural activities and to meet old and new friends.

View website

End of project report
Additional report

Continued the work of the first Cara project. Cara Too focused strongly on people living in supported accommodation and others who find it difficult to leave their homes.

View website

Building on their existing model of peer support Leeds Mind focused on providing intensive one-to-one support and peer-led groups. Target groups included BAME communities and men.

View website

A comprehensive training programme for older people, volunteers and staff to raise awareness of loneliness and share key messages. Training was provided across Leeds, focusing on the causes and effects of social isolation and the ways in which this could be reduced.

View website

Brought together the Age Friendly and Dementia Friendly campaigns to help make Leeds the ‘Best City to Grow Old In’.

View website

End of project report

Staff talked to people to find out what activities and interests they wanted to get involved with, and matched them with a like-minded person, to build friendship around their shared activity.

View website

Worked with the Skills Re-ablement Service in West Leeds, and with other partners, identifying people recovering from a period of illness or hospital stay to help keep them connected and engaged with their interests. Delivery areas included Pudsey, Horsforth, Farsley, Calverly, Rodley, and Tyersal.

View website

View website
Additional report

Connected with professionals such as GPs, memory support teams, community matrons and more, to reach older people living with frailty, in need of an extra level of support to socialise and participate in their community.

View website

End of project report

Regenerated a sense of community spirit and connections by inviting local people to become ‘Street Agents’ or ‘Community Connector’. These connections encouraged isolated older people to get and stay involved in local activities, such as lunch clubs and line dancing.

View website

End of project report
Additional report

Used a variety of taster sessions and specially designed activities to increase engagement with older people, focusing on those likely to be affected by social isolation.

View website

Connected Punjabi-speaking families with Punjabi-speaking isolated older people to foster cross-generational relationships. Once a fortnight, volunteers shared an evening meal, either in the volunteer’s, or the elder’s, home.

View website

End of project report
Additional report

One-to-one, small group and large group dance and movement sessions in care homes, focusing on people living with dementia.

View website
Additional report
Additional report 2

Worked with the Leeds Education Arts Forum (LEAF) to create social opportunities through culture and the arts.

View website

End of project report
Additional report
Additional report 2

Worked with Age UK Leeds across Leeds., A group of older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans (LGBT) people created a programme of activities which were fun and easy to access by people over 50. The team also worked to strengthen LGBT inclusivity of existing services through training and partnership work.

View website
Additional report
Additional report 2

Additional report

Used a game as part conversation project with Neighbourhood Networks and older people’s community-led organisations across Leeds.

View website

Lip-reading classes for people with hearing impairments, alongside a peer support group where learners could practise their lip-reading skills in a relaxed, social setting.

View website

Skills sharing workshops to combat isolation and improve the self-esteem of older people.

View website

A weekend community network building scheme for groups of older people who lived alone, providing contact and friendship through visits and refreshments at local people’s homes.

View website

Took the successful post-crossing/digital postcard cafe sessions to other community and public sector residents associations across the area.

View website

Opportunities for older men identified as having significant needs to join taster sessions and try different activities in a variety of locations.

View website

Used reminiscence about sport, social and inclusive physical activities to support mental and physical well-being of older people and those living with dementia, depression and isolation.

View website

Older care home residents paired with school pupils from the same community, who then wrote monthly letters to the residents. The pen pals met three times in the school year, and were encouraged to engage with each other through gentle creative exercises.

View website

A Walking Football team for men aged 50+ in the Bramley area, meeting weekly for friendly games and time to socialise.

View website

Buddy Scheme for older people living alone, offering transport and befriending for the most frail and vulnerable older people in their community.

View website

Weekly dance, fun and wellbeing, technical support and social opportunities, for older people, .

View website

Improving speech and comprehension abilities for people with aphasia via home-based support. Also ran the Leeds Aphasia Cafe for people to socialise and the Aphasia Choir for people with aphasia and their carers.

View website

Supported 10 small groups of men, aged 60+, who had experienced bereavement, to produce and share 10 video stories with their peers, to help them celebrate their experiences and share how they coped with the loss of loved ones.

View website

A social activity club for men and women aged 55+ who lived alone and were looking for friendship, activities and interaction with others.

View website

Reduced isolation through participation, encouraging older people to reuse, recycle and stop wastage wherever it occured in their daily lives.

View website

Expanded support provision to include the city centre as a community in and of itself, and to be responsive to city-wide need, with particular emphasis on older people within the inner city.

View website

Outreach and specific programming for local 50+ people at risk of social isolation, with activities and events at times when the expectation was to be with family, (holidays, weekends, evenings).

View website

Personalised dance/exercise programme for people with Parkinson’s Disease from 3 areas in Leeds. One-to-one and dance group sessions to help them experience better health and wellbeing.

View website

Focused outreach to people aged 50+, helping them engage with TLC community café, in order to reduce isolation and enhance health and wellbeing.

View website

Social club for LS27 residents aged 50+. Used two fully adapted minibuses, to help elderly and isolated people socialise and visit places or do activities they would not normally be able to.

View website

Offered older people the opportunity to try new activities, such as gentle Zumba classes and also table tennis and yoga, at the St Vincent’s Centre.

View website

An accessible transportation scheme for older people to ensure independence and engagement through the coordination of trained volunteers and their vehicles.

View website

A series of group visits to locations of cultural, historical, and/or environmental interest for social support and enjoyment.

View website

Continued Bookchat group for older people, development of new groups and connecting people with the day centres. Also trained people interested in delivering Bookchat sessions for older people in their community.

View website

Monthly aphasia café in Belle Isle to complement home based one-to-one support, and the development of training for volunteers through a closer partnership with the speech and language therapy department at Leeds Hospitals.

View website

Radio broadcasting training for classes of people aged 50+ with the aim of tackling loneliness, social isolation, dementia and various health issues.

View website

Six week cookery course for people aged 50+ to help reduce social isolation, where the group would learn to cook a meal together and then sit and eat together.

View website

Connected more active elders aged 55-70 (especially men) with each other in a ‘café-style’ setting, whilst providing opportunities to use their skills and interest in supporting others in the community.

Weekly session for older people with and without learning disabilities in South Leeds, using creative methods such as drama, dance, music and art, to encourage people to learn new skills and develop their social skills.

View website

Weekly supper club session for socially isolated people, offering friendship, support and a safe place to come together, chat and try different activities.

View website

Creative and social project aimed at socially isolated older people for whom English is a second language or whose primary cultural experience is not British.

View website

Bollywood dancing and wellbeing classes for people who find it difficult to socialise, due to health, age, distance or other factors.

View website
Additional report

Provided bus passes to older destitute asylum seekers, to enable them to make and maintain greater social contacts, access green spaces and leisure activities, as well as to access accommodation.

View website

Social group for older people with a shared interest in the history of the fire service in Leeds and in particular the Old Fire Station in Gipton, creating opportunities for reconnection with each other, the Fire Service and the wider community.

View website

Activity group for women aged 50+ from the local BME community, using traditional arts from around the world, exploring values, cultures and traditions of the countries to bring women together and socialise.

View website

Outreach and befriending service for older people with dementia and their carers.

View website

Used existing community transport providers and private hire companies to help local people join the walking group and buddying scheme.

View website

Did an assessment of existing minibus services and the ways these could be adapted to ensure that volunteers and most vulnerable socially isolated older people could be supported, now and in the future.

View website

Worked with student volunteers to provide befriending services to local isolated older people who found it difficult to access community facilities and services without help.

View website

Worked with BAME Health and Wellbeing Hub and Wykebeck Valley Day Centre and three professional artists. Participants explored visual arts and creative writing to address issues around loneliness and isolation

View website
Additional report
Additional report 2

Used the ABCD model (Asset Based Community Development) to encourage and facilitate relationships, within and between, local Extra Care, Sheltered and independent Living housing complexes in Aireborough.

View website

Outdoor exercise and gym sessions for older Asian men with sight impairment, and their carers

View website

Four short courses which helped carers get to know their rights and entitlements, understand how to best support their visually impaired dependants and get to know other carers with similar concerns.

View website

Information, advice and support to carers of people with dementia, over the telephone and face-to-face.

View website

Volunteers from the Syrian community provided transport and practical assistance to older people to help them to go shopping.

View website

Engaged isolated Chinese older men to develop strong social networks and reduce isolation by participating in social activities like singing and cooking.

Woodland and park walks for older people with dementia and their carers to enjoy the benefits of nature and being outdoors, away from the stresses of home life.

View website

Older people from South and North Seacroft Good Neighbours and residents of Queen’s View sent and received postcards as part of an international post-crossing project. They also had the chance to learn more about the digital world and develop their own IT skills.

View website

Befriending service for older people facing social isolation and loneliness due to living in a challenging environment with varying health issues.

View website

Older people with learning disabilities experiencing isolation attended a free arts group for 12 weeks in which they made friends and created artwork designed to communicate their social likes and ambitions to other people.

View website

Volunteer befriender enablers provided short-term support to socially isolated individuals, to form new or strengthen existing relationships with family or friends and feel a connection to their local community or neighbourhood.

View website

In the inner South Leeds area, an outreach worker made connections within the community with men and women aged 50+, working individually, fostering relationships and encouraging connections and friendships with others in the community.

View website

Engaged with men aged 50+ by helping the charity through its shops and warehouse. Targeted mainly those in social isolation, such as carers, those on probation, changing lifestyle after detox, widowers or those new to the area.

View website

A gardening social club which brought older men out of social isolation and provided a gardening service for older men who cannot manage to maintain their own gardens, as well as a number of group days out.

A three-month participatory story-telling project that culminated in a live performance/discussion and the creation of a short film. 50 volunteers/partners over the age of 50 found 50 elderly people to take on a bus journey, listen to their stories, have a conversation, share refreshments, then turn the process into the performance and film.

View website

Three hour drop in sessions for the Late Breakfast club for socially isolated men over 50 from the Polish Centre in Chapeltown. People participated in activities with each other in a safe fun space and talked freely on a range of topics

View website

Three group sessions during the festive period provided seasonal refreshments and activities.

View website

Summer excursions accessible to people with mobility problems, involved members and other local older people who would benefit. Also recruited and trained local student volunteers to provide assistance on these trips.

View website

Made contributions to Christmas 2019/20 with a festive dinner, festive activities, stalls for local businesses, entertainment and community forums over the week.

View website

Held a Summer event to invite local people of all ages (with a focus on over 50s) to enjoy dance, crafts, culture and music, accompanied by afternoon tea.

View website

Worked with seniors in the multicultural area of Burmantofts to share their stories and do a creative activity, while chatting and sharing a freshly cooked meal using fare share donated food.

View website

Helped older isolated members of BME communities to come together for a weekend at Northern College (residential adult education) in the spring and summer. Members also ran an inter-generational party between Christmas and New Year.

View website

For older people in their community who were socially isolated to celebrate Chanukah, a public festival of light, intergenerationally, and build connections over early 2020, and hold summer activities.

View website

Series of visits for people aged 50+, allowing them to experience different places for shared interest, mutual support and social benefits.

View website

Seasonal activities to reduce the impact of loneliness over the festive season and summer holidays.

View website

Activities during Christmas 2019/20 and a seaside trip in August 2020, in addition to their usual seasonal activities such as a Christmas dinner, party and fair, and a minibus trip for Christmas shopping.

View website

Brought the sights, sounds, touch, taste and smell of the seaside to Pudsey, for their most vulnerable members who are unable to access transport and travel long distances.

View website

A day trip to Bridlington for 90 older people in the community, who wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to go to the seaside. Included coach travel and fish and chips lunch.

View website

A summer holiday at home for people unable to participate in a traditional holiday, with fun, games, meals and lots of enjoyment, in August 2020.

View website

Intergenerational animation with vegetables over Christmas

View website

A one day event/party for people who would be alone at Christmas, with food and activities, including using Skype to contact friends or family further afield. Also summer holiday activities, August 2020 .

View website