05 June 2018

Intergenerational approaches to educational attainment

This discussion session will explore the potential of intergenerational approaches to educational attainment, and in particular, the benefits for community planning. The event will also highlight the University of Strathclydes model of intergenerational mentoring.

The event is free and will be held in Londonderry Park, Newtownards, from 3-5pm. To book a place, please email e.gray@qub.ac.uk.......

04 June 2018

What works in improving educational attainment?

This seminar will focus on initiatives that aim to improve educational attainment. Liam O’Hare (CESI, Queens University Belfast) will discuss his experience in designing, implementing and evaluating education attainment programmes. Alistair Wilson and Katie Hunter (University of Strathclyde) will outline the successes and challenges of intergenerational mentoring in increasing educational attainment.

The seminar will be held in the Senate Room, Queens University Belfast, at 2.30pm on Monday 4 June 2018. Places must be booked in advance by contacting e.gray@qub.ac.uk by 30 May. .......

12 April 2018

Exploring Intergenerational Friendship

This seminar will explore friendship, ageing and intergenerational relationships, and is hosted by the British Society of Gerontology (Northern Ireland) and the School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin.

The event takes place on Thursday 12 April, at 11.30am to 1pm. Places are free, but must be booked in advance by emailing e.gray@qub.ac.uk.......

16 November 2017

‘Relationships in the Round’ in Adult Safeguarding: messages from recent research in England

In this seminar, Professor Jill Manthorpe (Kings College London) explored relationship-based safeguarding, which seeks to meet the needs of service users and carers. It also promotes quality of life, and aims to provide care that is both personalised and preventative.

The seminar took place on Thursday 16 November 2017, in Queens University Belfast........

07 June 2017

Exploring inequalities in caring: grandparents’ experiences of kinship care from multiple perspectives

The seminar explored issues related to older kinship carers from different perspectives – research, personal experience, an NGO organisation, and a practitioner. In particular, highlighted the link between kinship carers and inequality, in relation to age, gender and location. The keynote speaker was Dr Anna Tarrant, University of Lincoln.

This seminar was supported by British Society of Gerontology in Northern Ireland, and Keele University........

06 June 2017

Seminar - How older male kinship carers describe their care responsibilities and implications for ageing male identities

Tues 6th June 2016, Room BA-03-019, Belfast Campus, Ulster University 12:30-14:00

ARK Ageing Programme Visiting Fellow Anna Tarrant, University of Lincoln a seminar, drawing on a number of linked qualitative longitudinal studies conducted over a ten-year period in a city in the North of England. The presentation focused on the lived experiences of men who are kinship carers.

This seminar was delivered jointly with the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences at Ulster University as part of the Pushing the Boundaries seminar series........

07 December 2016

Something of Who I Am - launch of The Lively Project Exhibition

Something of Who I Am uses objects to take you on the Journey of Life, as negotiated by six people living in Northern Ireland. This exhibition is part of the Lively Project, in which six participants have volunteered six objects each as offering some insight into a significant moment or memory on the ‘vapour trail of life’. Visual artist, Gemma Hodge has produced a number of artistic works which illuminate the significance of the objects. Participants have also produced art and craft work of their own.

The launch will take place from 6-7pm on Wednesday 7 December, at the Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NH.
Places are free, but must be registered in advance by emailing Caroline OHare
.......

14 October 2016

Creative Ageing seminar

The key speaker was Dominic Campbell (co-founder and Artistic Director of Creative Aging International). This event focused in issues relating to arts and creativity among older people.
The event was held in Queens University Belfast on Friday 14 October 2016, from 11 am to 12.30, followed by a light lunch........

26 September 2016

Attitudes and Knowledge of Dementia - Detail Data Information Session

This information session will give attendees an insight into the attitudes to and knowledge of dementia in Northern Ireland, using data from the 2014 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey. The raw data behind this survey will also be presented and is already published on the Detail Data Portal.
This event will take place from 10-11.30am, on Monday 26 September 2016, and will be held at NICVA, 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast.
This event is organised by Detail Data, in partnership with ARK. This session is targeted at voluntary and community organisations. There is no cost, but places must be booked in advance........

10 June 2016

Growing older: The role of community and gardening in ageing well

This seminar was organised by the British Society of Gerontology in Northern Ireland, and focused on the role of community and gardening in ageing well. Harry Hughes (The Cabbagepatchers) who talked about connecting generations through community gardening. Rodd Bond (Dundalk Institute of Technology) discussed building age-friendly environments.......

01 June 2016

Age Encounters: Combatting loneliness in older age

The ARK Ageing Programme and U3A Foyle held an ‘Age Encounters’ event on 1 June, which explored loneliness in older age from different perspectives:

• Robert Hagan (Ulster University) focused on theoretical views of loneliness and how these relate to the life course and ageing
• Jim Simpson, an active U3A member, talked about his retirement, and why he joined U3A
• Paddy McEldowney (Easilink) highlighted the role of community transport in enabling people to participate in activities

13 May 2016

Creative Ageing Symposium

This event was a chance for anyone involved or interested in inspired provision for the older generation to get together and share good practice, exchange ideas, and network. The key speaker and facilitator was Dominic Campbell (Creative Aging International), who is a Visiting Fellow of the ARK Ageing Programme. The event took place in The Playhouse, Artillery Street, Derry/Londondery........

16 March 2016

Planning for the future: how should we look after our older people?

The aim of this event was to ignite people’s imagination to develop ideas which could support Northern Ireland’s fast growing population of older people. Attendees worked in teams to imagine how they could approach this issue in health and social policy terms.
The event took place on Wednesday 16 March from 10am-12 noon, as part of the Imagine Belfast festival........

27 October 2015

Ageing and Research

This event is organised by the British Society of Gerontology Northern Ireland, and focuses on the participation of older people in research. There will be two presentations: ‘Wise owls revisited: Involving Older People in Research on Ageing’ by Professor Jill Manthorpe (Kings College London) and ‘My Home Life’ Improving Quality of Life in Care Homes in Northern Ireland’, by Dr Assumpta Ryan (Ulster University).

The event will take place on Tuesday 27th October 2015, from 2.00pm to 4:00pm, in the Loughview Suite, Jordanstown campus, Ulster University. Registration will begin at 1.30pm. Tea, coffee & shortbread will be available.

The event is free, but places are limited and so must be booked in advance, by emailing caroline.ohare@qub.ac.uk.
This event is sponsored by the Institute for Research in Social Science at Ulster University.
.......

22 October 2015

Older People and Health and Social Care – Getting the ‘Right’ Approach

AgeNI and the ARK Ageing Programme invite you to the event Older People and Health and Social Care – Getting the Right’ Approach: How including the voices of older people and other human rights-based approaches improves outcomes in health and social care for older people.

This conference will bring together leading experts on older people, human rights and health and social care in order to provide an evidence based analysis of key challenges affecting older people in the area of health and social care.

The event will take place in Riddel Hall, Queens University, from 9.30-4.30. The event is free, but please register your interest by contacting Michele Young; e: Michele.young@ageni.org, t: 02890 892606
.......

21 October 2015

Adult safeguarding: care versus control

This seminar by John Williams (University of Aberystwyth) will focus on human rights issues in relation to adult safeguarding, consent and capacity.

The seminar will take place at 2.30pm on Wednesday 21 October 2015, in room 1.37, School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, 6 College Park East, Queen’s University Belfast, BT7 1LP. Registration and tea/coffee are at 2pm.

The event is free. However, places are limited and must be booked in advance. If you would like to book a place, please email caroline.ohare@qub.ac.uk.......

19 October 2015

Putting people at the heart of human rights

This seminar, organised by the ARK Ageing Programme and the Disability Research Network, will compare and contrast human rights issues associated with the rights of children and young people; people with disabilities; and older people. The keynote speaker is Professor John Williams (University of Aberystwyth).

The seminar will take place on Monday 19 October 2015 from 1.15-4.30 pm in the Canada Room/Council Chamber, Lanyon Building, Queen’s University Belfast. A light lunch will be available at 12.30.

The event is free, although places are limited and so must be booked in advance. If you would like to book a place, please email caroline.ohare@qub.ac.uk. There will be a lift and a loop system available. If you have any other accessibility requirements, please email caroline.ohare@qub.ac.uk........

17 September 2015

Population Ageing Affects All Age Groups

Debates on ageing societies mainly focus on the circumstances of older people. However, this seminar will highlight how population ageing affects everyone.
Professor Pearl Dykstra (Erasmus University Rotterdam) will discuss how demographic changes have strongly altered the social worlds of children, and are creating new opportunities for intergenerational connections. Gemma Carney and Paula Devine (ARK Ageing Programme) will present findings from the 2014 Kids Life and Times survey, exploring children’s attitudes to age and ageing.

The seminar will take place on Thursday 17 September 2015 from 2 to 4 pm in G0/008, 18 College Green, Belfast. Registration begins at 1.30 pm. Tea and coffee will be available.

The event is free, although places are limited and so must be booked in advance. If you would like to book a place, please email caroline.ohare@qub.ac.uk.......

17 June 2015

Is Northern Ireland a good place to be old?

This event marked the launch of the 2014 Northern Ireland Life & Times Survey, and focused on attitudes to ageing and ageism.

During the seminar, Paula Devine and Gemma Carney (ARK Ageing Programme) discussed key findings from the 2014 Life & Times survey. Claire Keatinge (Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland) highlighted the importance of research in helping policy makers make Northern Ireland a better place for older people........

09 June 2015

Advances in telecare: new solutions for carers and older people

Carers NI and the ARK Ageing Programme marked Carers Week with a seminar on carers and technology. The event took place in the Senate Room, Lanyon Building, Queen’s University, Belfast. The seminar was led by Visiting Fellow, Professor Sue Yeandle from the University of Leeds, who outlined her recent research on technology and how it can improve outcomes for carers and those needing care. Videos and slides are now available for each of the speakers........

08 June 2015

The impact of the carers movement on policy and practice: an international perspective

To mark the start of Carers week, ARK hosted a seminar by ARK Ageing Programme Visiting Fellow Professor Sue Yeandle.

This seminar outlined ongoing research on the emergence and impact of carers organisations in Europe, North America, Australia-New Zealand and East Asia and their gradual progress towards the formation of an international carers movement. .......

22 April 2015

Representing Age

This event will mark the launch of a branch of the British Society of Gerontology in Northern Ireland (BSGNI). The aim of the society is to increase awareness of social gerontology, and to develop a vibrant, cross sector, social gerontology research network within Northern Ireland.

To launch BSGNI, the event Representing Age will take place on Wednesday 22 April 2015. Professor Julia Twigg (University of Kent) will focus on her research on clothes, fashion and age, whilst Dr Maeve Rea (Queen’s University Belfast) will talk about Super Vivere: Reflections on long life and ageing well.

The event will take place in the Arts Council, 77 Malone Road, Belfast, from 3 – 5 pm on Wednesday 22 April. Registration begins at 2.30 pm. The event is free, although places are limited and so must be booked in advance. If you would like to book a place, please email caroline.rice@qub.ac.uk.......

23 February 2015

Launch of How to get to 100 ... and enjoy it

The ARK Ageing Programme hosted an event to launch the How to get to 100 ... and enjoy it exhibition in W5, Belfast. This exhibition is coordinated by the Centre for Population Change, University of Southampton.......

05 February 2015

There could be someone in here that?s gay...?: The Provision of Inclusive services to older lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) Adults in Residential Care Environments in Wales.

In this seminar, Paul Willis (Swansea University) will discuss his recent research on LGB adults in residential care environments in Wales. The seminar will take place at 2.30pm in the Old Staff Common Room, Queens University.

The event is free, but places need to be booked by contacting Caroline by email caroline.rice@qub.ac.uk or phone 028 9097 5922.

This event is jointly organised by the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work (Queens University Belfast) and the ARK Ageing Programme.......

25 November 2014

Age Encounters, 25 November 2014

Age Encounters is a network of researchers, academics and practitioners with an interest in age. Each meeting includes presentations from different sectors, along with time to chat over coffee. The next event will take place in the Old Staff Common Room, Lanyon Building, Queens University Belfast. Tea/coffee and registration is from 2.30, and presentations will start at 3pm:

• Lorna Montgomery and Janet Carter Anand (School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queens University Belfast), who will discuss research on services for socially-isolated older men in Belfast.
• Rejuvenate Project, North Belfast, who will highlight their services for men aged 55+ living across North Belfast

07 October 2014

Collaborating towards an age-friendly Northern Ireland

This workshop brought together practitioners, policy makers and researchers to explore how we can work together to create an age-friendly Northern Ireland. During the event, practitioners discussed their experience of intergenerational and age-friendly working across Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. This informed the policy forum exploring how Northern Ireland can learn best from these approaches.

The event was jointly organised by the ARK Ageing Programme and Linking Generations NI. The guest speaker was Nancy Henkin, Visiting Fellow of the ARK Ageing Programme........

03 October 2014

Beyond the silos: An ?all-age? approach to strengthening communities

This workshop explored how an ?all-age? approach can be used in addressing social issues such as sectarianism, community conflict, and hate crime.

The event was presented by Dr Nancy Henkin and Dr Lynn Johnston. Nancy is Executive Director of The Intergenerational Center, Temple University, Philadelphia, and is a Visiting Fellow of the ARK Ageing Programme. Lynn is a practitioner with Linking Generations Northern Ireland.

The workshop was held on Friday, 3 October 2014 in Holywell-DiverseCity Community Partnership, Bishop Street, Derry-Londonderry. .......

16 September 2014

Research on the Road: Cushendall

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........

27 August 2014

At the Crossroads: Preparing for an Ageing Population

Jointly organised by Age NI and the ARK Ageing Programme, this conference brought together leading experts on ageing and explored how policy makers and service providers in Northern Ireland can best prepare for demographic change. Academics and practitioners presented 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.
The conference took place on Wednesday 27th August, 2014 in Riddel Hall, Queens University........

29 May 2014

I imagine I cant do it so I wont do it... understanding older peoples interaction with online public services

In this seminar, Irene Hardill (University of Northampton) reflected 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........