Project
The Social CWELL Team organise tea dances for older people in Limerick City. Each ticket costs €5 and includes a sandwich meal and live music. The 2020 themed events planned included: Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Easter and a Summer Ball, all in Thomond Park. Tea Dances include bonnet and costume competitions, with a raffle at each event using donated spot prizes. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, the social events were cancelled. However, the bonnet competitions and Easter egg raffle went ahead online, using the St Munchin’s Facebook page. One raffle was held for children under 12 and a second for adults over 55.
The aim of the Social CWEL tea dances is to improve the social, physical and mental wellbeing of older people in the community. Attendees have the opportunity to socialise with friends and meet new people. Social CWELL hope the tea dances will help to reduce isolation and loneliness amongst older people. The tea dances are to be held four times a year, so attendees have social events to look forward to throughout the year.
In developing the project, Social CWell worked in consultation with 330 older people across the city. Social CWELL Tea Dances are also supported by: · St Munchin's Community Centre · Age-Friendly Limerick · Thomond Park. · Limerick City and County Council · The University of Limerick Community Engagement Facilitator, CWELL
Social CWELL consulted 330 older people across the city to develop a comprehensive needs analysis for older people and piloted a baseline study concerning social connectedness and life satisfaction. In addition to recording attendance numbers (including those who attend multiple events), participant surveys and video testimonials are planned to evaluate each event. Due to public health restrictions, the events were cancelled.
Learning
This module comprises workshop-based project management training delivered in CWELL classes with practical experiential learning, applied in a community- based project, designed to address an identified need. Module delivery comprises a series of practical exercises, designed to support knowledge of, and capacity building for project management. Students taking this module will be expected to design and deliver a community- based project to address an identified need.
This project is designed to improve the overall wellbeing of elderly people across Limerick City. Due to various factors, both health and social, older adults are at risk of social isolation. Tea dances are a great way to get people out and meeting new people. Dancing is also excellent exercise. Spread throughout the year, the tea dances also provide an event for attendees to look forward to all year round.
The Social CWELL team will work in collaboration with: • Older people across Limerick city • Limerick City and County Council Age Friendly initiative • St. Munchin's Community Centre • Thomond Park • The University of Limerick Community Engagement Facilitator, CWELL
There will be two assessments points to this module, each worth 50% of your final mark. The first assessment will comprise a site visit to your project by a panel of CWELL assessors. The second assessment will comprise the creation of a Project Portfolio detailing the project’s design and implementation and your participation in it. Guidelines concerning the creation of portfolios are available from the module’s Sulis site.