Irish in Britain was proud to host this first event of its Healthy Ageing Project in London on 4 October, bringing together 40 staff members from Irish in Britain member organisations across the South of England. The project has been made possible with support from the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund.
The gathering showcased the crucial work of Irish community organisations, highlighting their positive impact.
Organisations in attendance had the opportunity to spotlight the work they do to promote healthy ageing. These included welfare and technology support, physical wellness programmes, health information events, befriending and volunteering opportunities and most importantly, opportunities to connect with the Irish community in Britain.
The event also facilitated networking and the sharing of approaches to support the wellbeing of older adults.
Health inequality
A key highlight was a presentation by Dr Mary Tilki, an expert in health and social policy with over 20 years of experience in the Irish voluntary sector.
Dr Tilki addressed the unique health challenges confronting the Irish community, emphasising the need for culturally tailored support to address disparities in physical and mental health outcomes. Her presentation sparked important discussions on how we can all better support the ageing Irish community.
Dr Rosalind Willis captivated the audience with her in-depth analysis of the loss of Irish identity within research and the implications of this invisibility on access to services and policy decisions. She stressed the importance of preserving Irish identity in official data to ensure it informs healthcare planning and accurately reflects community needs.
In addition to these insightful discussions, participants enjoyed a lively session of Laughing Yoga led by Lotte Mikkelsen from United Mind. This unique approach illustrated the powerful health benefits of laughter, particularly in reducing stress. The session left everyone feeling rejuvenated and reminded them that laughter truly is the best medicine.
Collaboration
The Healthy Ageing Event was a fantastic day of networking, learning and collaboration leaving members inspired and motivated to continue their essential work in supporting the ageing Irish community in Britain.
We are grateful to John Nugent from Kings Place for generously offering the fantastic venue in Kings Cross for the event.
Ellen Gavin, Health and Wellbeing Lead:
“At Irish in Britain, we are dedicated to ensuring that older Irish individuals receive the support, resources and care they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Our member groups are a vital lifeline for many, serving as the backbone of our society.
Through the Healthy Ageing Project, we will continue to advocate for the needs of our community and empower Irish community organisations to prioritise healthy ageing.”
You can find out more about the project HERE.