ARK: ARK Ageing Programme

ARK Ageing Programme

News

At the crossroads: Preparing for an ageing population
Jointly organised by Age NI and the ARK Ageing Programme, this conference will bring together leading experts on ageing and will explore how policy makers and service providers in Northern Ireland can best prepare for demographic change. Academics and practitioners will present their analyses and recommendations on key issues including dementia, housing, employment, building an age-friendly Northern Ireland, effective consultation processes, and engaging with ‘hard to reach’ groups. This conference is free of charge, and will take place on Wednesday 27th August, 2014 in Queen's University. For more information, click here.

To register your interest and receive a full programme of the day, please contact Michele Young; e: Michele.young@ageni.org, t: 02890 892606

Factsheet on health and wellbeing of older men (June 2014)
Older men: health and wellbeing is the latest factsheet in the Men in Northern Ireland series, and collates data from the Census of Poulation and Health Survey Northern Ireland. This report was written to inform Men's Health Week 2014.

PhD opportunity - University of Ulster
We are pleased to advertise a PhD Studentship in Social Policy in the area of Adult Social Care Policy, which will be based in the University of Ulster . The closing date for applications is 2 June 2014. Full details are available at http://research.ulster.ac.uk/info/researchopp/Social%20Policy.html

Welcome to our second PhD Student (May 2014)
The second PhD studentship associated with the ARK Ageing Programme started in May 2014 with the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work at Queen's University Belfast. We are pleased to welcome Sarah Lawrence. Sarah's research will focus upon the experiences of men over fifty years old held in custody in Northern Ireland. Her research interests include the health and wellbeing of this growing population and the implication that this growth will have on the services provided by the criminal justice system, as well as local and national health authorities. Sarah's research will utilise a mixed methodology approach.

Seminar by Irene Hardill

We are very pleased that Irene Hardill AcSS (Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Northumbria Centre for Citizenship and Civil Society, Northumbria University) will present a seminar on Thursday 29 May 2014. In the seminar "I imagine I can't do it so I won't do it..." - understanding older people's interaction with online public services, Irene will critically reflect on a recent study of the impact of e-government in Ireland on the lives of older adults, drawing on in-depth qualitative work undertaken with older men and women in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

For more information and booking details, click here.

Research on the Road
Join us on 16 September in Cushendall for a Research on the Road event, in collaboration with NICVA and North Antrim Community Network. This workshop will give advice and expertise on how to conduct reliable research, and is geared towards those who work with or provide support to older people.

For more information and booking details, click here.

PhD Studentship (February 2014)
We are very pleased that the first PhD student within the ARK Ageing Programme has started! Welcome to Elizabeth Martin, who is based in the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work at Queen's. Elizabeth Martin graduated from Queen's University Belfast in 2012 with a First Class Honours Degree in Sociology and Social Policy and went on to complete a Masters in Sociology in 2013.

The main focus of Elizabeth's PhD will be on older women and domestic violence in Northern Ireland. She will also be looking at the issue of substance misuse amongst this population. Taking a qualitative approach, this study hopes to explore the lived experiences of older women who have been in violent relationships. The project will also examine what support services are available for these women with complex needs.

Age Encounters (February 2014)
Paula Devine and Gillian Robinson will be give a presentation on the ARK Ageing Programme at the next meeting of Age Encounters on 26 February 2014. Age Encounters is a network of researchers, academics and practitioners with an interest in age. Eddie Lynch (Age Sector Platform) will also give a presentation, and will highlight the work of the Northern Ireland Pensioners' Parliament. Click here for more information.

PhD opportunties (January 2014)
2 PhD opportunties are currently available at University of Ulster, as part of the ARK Ageing Programme:

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 28 February 2014

New Factsheet (January 2014)
Older men: Demography is the latest factsheet in the Men in Northern Ireland series, and collates data from the Census of Poulation and mid-year population estimates.

Did you know?
Make sure that you check out our 'Did you know???' section for facts and figures (updated every month).