Civic Participation and Employment: Age Freindly Action Plan

Older people have a wealth of knowledge and experience which is currently under-appreciated and undervalued. It is important to encourage opportunities for older people to work and to volunteer is if that is the wish of the individual.

Gwynedd is a rural area where there are a lot of challenges around civic participation and employment, including transport. Hopefully working in an age friendly manner will resolve some of these challenges

 

Our Action Plan

  • Various partners will look at the possibility of joining the age-friendly employer pledge.
  • Mantell Gwynedd will have a new post to support individuals into volunteering roles within their local communities.
  • Grŵp Cynefin are planning to recruit an age-friendly officer to work with some of these challenges and support their tenants.
  • Cymunedoli Cyf. are looking to increase its network of 33 members to support their community enterprises supporting local employment and volunteering.
  • Look into community time banking to ensure that we give back and thank volunteers by supporting their wellbeing and helping them in the way needed to age well.

 

Case Studies 

Gwaith Gwynedd has set ‘people over the age of 50’ as one of their target groups by encouraging them in to work. This campaign is closely aligned with the 5 ways to well-being campaign and how employment can help to keep the brain healthy and offers plenty of social interactions.

Gwaith Gwynedd supports people into work but also supports individuals to up-skill so they can apply for different jobs and career changes, whatever their age. A career change can be daunting, especially with no support, but Gwaith Gwynedd can help individuals navigate their career change and help them recognise the skills that they need.

Members of Cymunedoli Cyf. (third sector groups and social enterprises) work closely within their local areas to make a difference within those communities. The benefits created by Cymunedoli Cyf. can be seen from the data collected from 23 of the members (out of the 33 in the network) and proves that strength comes through working together. These figures prove the social, economical and environmental worth of community enterprises across Gwynedd. All these enterprises work through the medium of Welsh.

Here’s an overview of what has been accomplished across the whole of Gwynedd:

  • Turnover total of £13.56m
  • Assets worth of £43.2m
  • Employ 239 full time workers
  • Employ 215 part time workers
  • 536 volunteers

By offering local work and volunteering opportunities across Gwynedd Cymunedoli Cyf. ensures that being a rural area is not always an obstacle.