NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Evaluation of Northants 50+ Network June 2010 Author: Sonja Noon Public Engagement Manager, Northamptonshire County Council Report Completed: June 2010 Report updated: Northants 50+ Network Evaluation Content Introduction 3 Background 3 Summary of findings 5 Future Options 6 Recommendations 7 Appendices 8 2 Northants 50+ Network Evaluation Introduction The Northants 50+ Network is a network of people over the age of 50 who live in Northamptonshire. There are approximately 2,000 members, the Network have established a management board and activity coordinators have been set up throughout the county. There is a regular quarterly network newsletter to keep members informed of what is happening for older people in the County and details of local activities in all areas. The Network has been operating for one year in its current format. Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) supports the Northants 50+ Network through an annual grant of £5000 and support from with the Public Engagement and Partnerships Team in Health and Adult Social Care Directorate. The work of the Network assists NCC to meet its core purpose. Northamptonshire County Council has defined its core purpose as: We are here to help you help yourself We are here to help you when you can't help yourself We want you to see us as a trusted advocate The work of the Network is to promote health and well being amongst older people enabling them to lead more fulfilled and active lives living independently at home. Background The Public Engagement & Partnership team has completed an evaluation of the Northants 50+ Network. The purpose of the evaluation was to measure the effectiveness of the Network in promoting Health and Well being, reduce social isolation by providing activities and social events and giving relevant information to older people. The Northants 50+ Network is run by a central board of volunteers who oversee the networks activity coordinators and the work of the Network Facilitator. The board gather information about older people‟s issues in the County and responds to consultation and influences organisations through a range of meetings, for example sitting on the Scrutiny Committee for Health and Social Services. There are 5 volunteer activity coordinators groups based around the County who organise activities for members in their locality. In 2009 they organised over 30 events ranging from Laughter Afternoon to consultations around “Building a Society for all Ages”. Nearly 1900 older people accessed these events. The quarterly newsletter is sent out to over 2000 individuals, parish councils and groups with contributions from around the County. 3 Northants 50+ Network Evaluation Northants 50+ Network Structure The structure chart below identified the key organisations affiliated to and supported by the network. The key priorities for the network are: To enable over 50‟s to:- Have a voice and be listened to through consultation and engagement opportunities Influence statutory organisations, public bodies and voluntary sector organisations on how their services are developed and delivered and be engaged in creating opportunities for change Participate in local, county, regional, national and international initiatives for older people To share information both within the organisation and within the community Encourage the development of new activities in areas where activities are not provided Promote and encourage participation in activities To challenge age discrimination Northants 50+ Network – Structure chart 2010 Ethnic Minorities Forum H & ASC Overview & Scrutiny Committee Engagement & Consultation Daventry Over Fifty NCC Working Group (ad hoc) Rushden/Thrapston OP Forum Older People’s Champions Wellingborough OP Forum Older People’s Corby OP Forum Thematic Partnership Northants 50+ Oundle OP Forum Network Board East Midlands Later Life Forum Northampton Pensioners Forum School of Life Kettering OP Forum Fundraising Working Activities Working Group Group South Northants Forum Northants 50+ Network Membership Methodology A questionnaire was designed jointly between board members and members of the Public Engagement team based at the County Council. The questionnaire was based 4 Northants 50+ Network Evaluation on the Adult Social Care Outcomes Tool (ASCOT) for measuring outcomes for health and adult social care and locally developed questions agreed through NCC research governance. This was discussed with Board members and activity coordinators. The final questionnaire was produced with the assistance of a Board member taking into consideration feedback from the groups. The questionnaire was sent out to a random sample of 646 members (approximately one third of members) in 7 different areas across the county. The initial response returned approximately 150 returns which was not statistical viable for the evaluation. This was followed up with telephone calls and written reminders. A final total of 236 questionnaires were returned giving a return rate of 37% with a confidence ratio of 5.08%. (A confidence ratio of 5% or less is considered statistically viable, for the purposes of this evaluation we decided to accept this ratio). Summary of findings Newsletter 91% of respondents thought the newsletter was fairly important/very important to them 96% of respondents liked receiving the newsletter 95% respondents felt the newsletter helped to inform them of events Activities 84% of respondents thought the activities arranged by the Network were fairly important/very important to them 60% of respondents felt the Network arranged events that suited their needs The main reasons cited for not taking part in activities were caring responsibilities, cost and travel issues Socialising 76% of respondents felt that the opportunity to socialise through the Network was fairly important/very important to them 83% of respondents felt they had adequate socialising in their lives with 24% of respondents stating that the Network had helped them to increase their level of social interaction How the Network improves the lives of members (Respondents could choose as many boxes as they liked in this section) 170 respondents felt that the Network provided information 159 respondents felt that the Network helps me to keep in touch with what‟s happening for older people 102 respondents felt that the Network gave them opportunities to take part in activities 77 respondents felt that the Network made them feel more likely to try new things 73 respondents felt that the Network helped them socialising with other people 53 respondents felt that the Network helped them to keep active and occupied 32 respondents felt that the Network helped them to increase the activities I do 29 respondents felt that the Network helped them to increase my social group 5 Northants 50+ Network Evaluation 26 respondents felt that the Network made them feel more likely to volunteer About the Respondents 67% feel safe in the their lives 55% had no problems taking part in activities, whereas 45% experienced some problems or were unable to take part in activities 34% had some difficulties in terms of mobility 96% considered themselves to have reasonable health although 194 respondents indicated some form of illness or disability Issues Activities are often not held in the area the respondent lived and there were difficulties with transport to the events Activities suit much older people and many people had there own networks of social activities such as U3A People are still at work and can not get to day time events Caring responsibilities and health issues prevented people from attending Suggestions Having the newsletter more often Including more information on issues for older people Develop a befriending service to help more people participate More activities in each of the areas Future Options The options for future development of the services the 50+ Network provide will be limited by the capacity of network members and the level of funding made available to the network. 1. The Network could continue to provide the current level of services. Action The network would be able to meet this option within current resources but it does not take account of the planned development of the website and the opportunities this will offer; consider how the website can help develop additional services. 2. The Newsletter is very popular and seems to give people the information they want. This could be developed to provide more information about health and social care services for older people and current issues or concerns. By increasing the newsletter production to 6 issues instead of 4 it could accommodate more information and provide more timely articles on activities and groups for older people to get involved with. Action There is currently no planned increase in the funding allocated to the Network by NCC or capacity at NCC to undertake this work. It would therefore be 6 Northants 50+ Network Evaluation necessary to consider how this could exploit the development of the Network website development. 3. The provision of a range of activities is important work of the network and seen as important by members, this should be reviewed to ensure that the Network is appropriately focusing activities and enabling people to access activities and events. Action The priorities of the Network should be discussed to determine which age group are most in need of the additional activities and these should be developed accordingly. 4. With and increasing number of older people living at home it is important