Presentation from the BME and faith groups parallel session at Age UK's fit as a fiddle: A lasting legacy conference

1. Making physical activity
programmes more
accessible to BME and faith
groups

2. Eastern Lives
Clare Root – Divisional Manager

3. Age UK Lancashire - Where we are
Fit as a Fiddle

4. Eastern Lives
An overview
• Age UK Lancashire was one of the 200
organisations delivering 24 regional
projects for the fit as a fiddle portfolio
• Our project -Eastern Lives – focuses upon
minority ethnic predominantly South Asian
heritage - older people residing in 5 areas
of East Lancashire.
• The 5 areas were selected as having the
highest population density of minority
ethnic inhabitants and were also areas of
high socio-economic deprivation.
• Health inequalities and mortality rates were
above regional and national averages for
these 5 areas .
Fit as a Fiddle

5. Project aims and objectives.
The aim of the project is to improve the physical and mental health
and well being of Asian heritage older people across deprived
towns of East Lancashire through establishing a programme of
healthy lifestyle initiatives that increase physical activity, improve
healthy eating habits and reduce social isolation in a culturally
sensitive and appropriate way.
Fit as a Fiddle

6. Outcomes
1. Older people to become more
physically active.
2. Older people and their families
are eating more healthily.
3. Older people have improved
mental health and wellbeing
and feel less socially isolated.
Fit as a Fiddle

7. Physical Activity Work
• Low impact activities were offered
including seated exercise programmes
held at local venues in single sex groups.
• Gentle walks were introduced –along with
longer , weekly guided walks .
• Partnership agencies provided additional
physical exercise classes on Tai Chi and
yoga.
• Intergenerational work with local primary
schools offered physical activity and
games including Wii fit, orienteering and
10 pin bowling.
• Green Gyms
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8. Healthy Eating
•Healthy Eating Workshops
•Cookery classes .
•Gardening & allotment workshops
•Lunch Clubs
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9. Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
• Holistic assessment of each
participant undertaken.
• Provide access to activities
that will improve social
interaction.
• Wellbeing awareness
workshops using
reminiscence sessions.
• Arts & Crafts.
• Volunteers
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10. What Barriers and Challenges Did We Face??
•Language & Literacy
•Fatalistic approach to old age &
illness
•Restricted physical abilities
•Lack of transport & accessible
venues
•Cultural barriers to participation
•Fear , mistrust – lack of
confidence & self esteem
Fit as a Fiddle

11. How did we overcome these barriers?
• Recruited project staff & volunteers with bi lingual skills &
community knowledge.
• Local , accessible and familiar venues
• Used other existing groups & community “leaders” that had an
existing relationship with ME older people already.
• Offered low impact easily accessible activities.
• Offered separate men`s and women`s groups/activities with male
& female staff, volunteers & tutors.
• Provided transport and accompanied participants to venues where
required.
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12. Main Achievements
• Impact upon older people`s
lives.
• Forging strong links for
future between older people
and the health & social care
sector.
• Changing the mindset of
communities as to the
importance of health and
wellbeing needs even when
getting “older”!
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13. Where are we now?
• Fit as a fiddle /BLF “Supporting
Change & Impact” bid
• BLF Reaching Communities bid
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14. Contact us at
Age UK Lancashire
Eastern Lives Project
Unit 2 Number One Market Street
Nelson
Lancashire
BB9 7LJ
www.ageuklancs.org.uk
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15. Faith and Community Strand
Shaheen Bi – Sporting Equals, Insight and Projects Manager

16. faaf - faith and community strand
Sporting Equals is an independent body whose mission is to
promote ethnic diversity in the area of sport and physical activity.
Our aim it to raise awareness of needs of Black and Minority
Ethnic (BME) communities, influence policy and inspire change.
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17. faaf - faith and community strand
Sporting Equals was commissioned by AgeUK to help support the
Big Lottery Fund Wellbeing Programme which supports the fit as
a fiddle portfolio.
One of the five national partners to the AgeUK fit as a fiddle
cascade training programme appointed to deliver the „Faith and
Community Strand‟.
Fit as a Fiddle

18. fit as a fiddle - faith and community strand
Aim of Project
To develop a tailor made training package for Black and Minority
Ethnic (BME) communities to enable wellbeing focusing on three
key outcomes:
Physical Activity
Healthy Eating
Mental Wellbeing
Fit as a Fiddle

19. fit as a fiddle - faith and community strand
Objective of the Project
Training aimed at up-skilling volunteers to enable them to work
with up to six older beneficiaries.
Three key phases:
Initial Pilot
Regional Pilot
National Roll Out
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20. fit as a fiddle - faith and community strand
Outcomes of Project
Training
289 Volunteers trained across 39 Partner Organisations
Reach of 1,224 Older Beneficiaries
Roadshows
15 partner organisations hosted 29 Roadshow Events
Reach of 4,019 Older Beneficiaries
Total amount of people engaged: 5,532
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21. fit as a fiddle - faith and community strand
Fit as a Fiddle

22. fit as a fiddle - faith and community strand
Engaging BME communities in Physical Activity
 Incorporating exercise as part of daily activities and making small
changes to routines.
 Introducing less demanding and new activities such as Tai Chi, Chair
Based Exercise.
 Highlighting the benefits of physical activity in community languages
in light of loss off weight, feeling healthier and less stressed.
 Being culturally sensitive to older peoples needs around dress and
segregation.
Evaluation results show that these changes helped increase physical activity levels (on
average an extra 2 hours of activity per week).
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23. fit as a fiddle - faith and community strand
Engaging BME communities in Healthy Eating
 Raising awareness of natural ingredients,
particularly the use of fat and ghee and
proportion control.
 Introducing healthy cooking methods, food
hygiene and specific diets for illnesses such as
diabetes and heart conditions.
 Introducing more fruit and vegetables linked to
country of origin.
 Being mindful of shopping habits and what is
purchased.
Image from St Plus College - Magherafelt
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24. fit as a fiddle - faith and community strand
Engaging BME communities in Wellbeing
 Offering opportunities for shared
experiences, reminiscence and
activities to keep the mind active
e.g; social walking groups
 Introducing opportunities for social
interaction and activity and linking
this to places of worship.
 Befriending to help develop
confidence and self assurance
particularly for BME women.
Image from Sporting Equals Training Session
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25. fit as a fiddle - faith and community strand
Feedback - Partner Organisations
‘Participants are more mindful of the need to
incorporate exercise into their lifestyles and are more
aware of how this could be done through daily
activities’.
Moreland Trust
‘The best thing we have learnt from the project is that
people have the capacity to do a lot more than we
give them credit for but need support to get there.’
Stratton Street Community Centre
Fit as a Fiddle Image from Sporting Equals Partner Organisation

26. fit as a fiddle - faith and community strand
Achievements
 Message of faaf went beyond older people and impacted on the
wellbeing of volunteers, the wider community and sustained behaviour
change in projects.
 The project has created greater health awareness and demonstrated
enhanced health outcomes.
 The training and roadshows allowed Sporting Equals to deliver key
messages to audiences who are otherwise disengaged from
mainstream services.
Fit as a Fiddle

27. fit as a fiddle - faith and community strand
Sustainability & Long Term Impact
• 72% of projects established partnership links with key agencies such
as Primary Care Trusts, Community Groups etc.
• 56% of projects confirmed that they will continue working relationships
through referral links, befriending services and for accessing
resources such as subsidised venues.
• 79% of projects have sustained faaf volunteers and have confirmed
they would continue with activities now the project has ended.
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28. Key Recommendations
Engaging older people from BME communities
CULTURE
• Provide same sex groups and tutors at exercise
classes and events.
• Be aware of issues around clothing and consider
religious sensitivities such as prayer timing.
• Use people who can speak community
languages and consider language and literacy
requirements.
• Link health messages to religious teachings..
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29. Key Recommendations
Engaging older people from BME communities
MARKETING AND PROMOTION
• BME groups respond more positively to “word of mouth” or one to one
personal promotion as opposed to more “traditional” poster/leafleting methods.
• BME older people are more likely to engage with a project that has been
recommended to them or “legitimised” by a religious leader or community
champion.
• Promote projects through ethnic media and places of worship ie; gurdwaras,
mosques and temples.
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30. Key Recommendations
Engaging older people from BME communities
VOLUNTEERS
• Use volunteers with existing experience of the
community and its particular ways of doing
things to engage with BME older people.
• Up skill volunteers through training.
• Utilise the role of volunteers as community
champions and role models to promote health
messages.
• Set clear targets for volunteers and reward
achievement.
Image from Finsbury park Business Forum
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31. Key Recommendations
Engaging older people from BME communities
PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT
• Bring health professionals out of their mainstream premises/offices into the
community to meet with BME older people in local, accessible and trusted
venues.
• Consult with BME older people on activities and talk to them about what
challenges they face and work with service providers to help break down
barriers.
• Signpost activities and develop partnership links.
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32. Barriers to Engagement and Why these projects
are important?
• Mainstream services are not culturally sensitive to the needs of BME
communities1.
• BME Groups suffer from greater social disadvantage2 and are more
likely to be concentrated in the most economically deprived wards in
England3.
• Statistics show that there are greater health inequalities for BME
groups compared to the general population4.
1. Sporting Equals faaf Evaluation Report, January 2012
2. Socio-economic position and political support of individuals of black and minority ethnic (BME) ethnicity in Britain, 1971-2004 - Economic and Social
Research Council (ESRC)
3. Parallel lives? Poverty among ethnic minority groups in Britain, Platt, L, London 2012
4. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Post note 276, January 2007
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33. Barriers to Engagement and why these types of
projects are important?
• A clear need for service providers to build trust and reassurance and
to be culturally aware to help break down barriers.
• Lack of awareness and education around health and physical activity,
e.g; some BME communities view old age as a period of rest.
• Limited information accessible through mainstream providers and lack
of knowledge around what is available locally.
• Changing behaviour takes time and needs supported interventions.
Fit as a Fiddle