LTCAS

There is renewed focus on improving the health and wellbeing of older people in Scotland to enable them to live well and independently in their local communities; not least due to the demographic trends that show the rate at which our population is ageing. The European Year for Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity in 2012  represents an important opportunity to build on Scotland’s position as a leader in delivering quality outcomes for older people.

Other opportunities include:

• The World Congress on Active Ageing in Glasgow in August 2012
• CMO guidance on Physical Activity for older people
• Scotland's 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy will be to encourage all Scots - young and old - to be more physically active in our everyday lives

There is currently a host of activity in Scotland that is contributing to changing the landscape of support and improving outcomes for older people. The direction of travel is clearly articulated in the report of the Christie Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services, and the Change Fund and Reshaping Care for Older People.

In order to contribute to this agenda and take advantage of the opportunity created by the European Year for Active Ageing, Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS) is holding a national learning and practice exchange Conference on Friday 27^th April, 2012, entitled Our PATH to Active Ageing, co sponsored by Dr Stewart Maxwell MSP and Dr Richard Simpson MSP at the Scottish Parliament in Committee Room 1. This will coincide with the European Day for Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity. The event will highlight the benefits of physical activity in promoting healthy ageing and will include the showcasing of good practice from a variety of organisations. Speakers include Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport; Susanne Hollmann,  European Commission, Sport Unit, Directorate General for Education and Culture; and Louise Richardson, Vice President, AGE Platform Europe.

Objectives for the event:

• To promote cross sector collaboration on healthy and active ageing
• To share innovative ways to promote physical activity for older people, including those living with a disability
• To exchange learning about the barriers and enablers for participation
• To explore the benefits of physical activity on health and wellbeing for older people and their carers
• To inform the development of practical guidance and case studies
• To help partnerships make a shift to more preventative and anticipatory care

To register your interest for this event fill in the survey monkey

For more information, please contact:
Louise Wanczycki on 0141 404 0231 or email louise.wanczycki@ltcas.org.uk

As part of LTCAS Annual Conference in partnership with the Scottish Government, Living with Long Term Conditions: Employability, Poverty and Welfare Reform conference, there are a range of study visits offering delegates the chance to see at close hand a range of innovative and successful approaches to employability across Scotland.

Delegates for the conference and our wider network can sign up to attend these visits.

1. Hansel Alliance , Ayrshire 
   10am - 1pm followed by lunch
   8 delegates maximum (lunch included)
   Hansell Alliance support disabled people to get back into work and showcase positive outcomes, the visit will include a visit to Hansel’s supported businesses.
   
   Aim: To see the value of working with people with disabilities and their journey into employment with the barriers they face in Employment and the difference employment can make to their lives.
    
2. Discover Opportunities , Dundee 
   10.30am - 1.30pm (lunch included)
   To see the value of working with people with disabilities and their journey into employment with the barriers they face in Employment and the difference employment can make to their lives.
   
   Aim: This visit will share learning from this co-located, multi agency, employability centre
    
3. Ingeus , Glasgow
   10am - 1.30pm (light lunch included)
   Ingeus will introduce and talk about the Work Programme;  On this visit delegates wil be given the opportunity  to interact with clients and staff
   
   Aim: To give delegates an understanding of the work we do with long term unemployed people, and those with complex health barriers. It will also give delegates the chance to interact with clients and participate in the daily life of an Employment Advisor.
    
4. Momentum , Glasgow
   10.30am - 12noon
   Momentum will showcase a gardening project staffed fully by disabled people, this will showcase good practice in developing work skills for people with an acquired brain injury.
   
   Aim: The aim of this visit is to demonstrate good practice in building up work skills, working within a team rebuilding stamina.  Also the importance of environmental issues, time management, crop rotation and generally horticultural issues involved with working in a garden.  See further information about study visit.
    
5. Access to Industry , Edinburgh
   10.30am - 11.30am
   Access to Industry will showcasw the benefits of education and employability services as part of the recovery pathway for people who have a history of substance misuse and the impact it has on their mental wellbeing, delegates will meet with staff and service users.
   
   Aim: To provide first hand information on the role and potential benefits of education and employability services as part of the recovery pathway for people who have a history of substance misuse and the impact this has on people’s health and well being.  Delegates will gain a better understanding of the value of the contribution this makes to the individual’s continuing recovery.
    
6. The Works, Edinburgh
   1.30pm - 4pm
   The visit to the Works aims to increase the awareness of evidence based supported employment
   
   Aim: To increase awareness and knowledge of evidenced based supported employment, the Individual Placement and Support model (IPS) for people with complex mental health conditions. 
    
7. West Dunbartonshire CHP/Levengrove Horticulture Project, West Dunbartonshire
   9.30am - 1pm (light lunch included)
   This visit will showcase supported employment opportunities for  people with Mental health/ learning disability/ autism in the environment in which they are active  in employment  and volunteering as a route to employment. 
   
   Aim: To showcase supported employment opportunities for people with Mental health/ learning disability/ autism in the environment in which they are active in employment and volunteering as a route to employment. 

To sign up to these study visits, please email event@ltcas.org.uk