Active at 60 Community Agents

On 23 November 2010, the Minister for Pensions announced that the Government would provide a £1million fund to help older people who are at most risk of longer-term loneliness and social isolation remain active, independent and positively engaged with society following retirement.

Local community organisations in 30 areas bid for grants of £250 - £3,000. DWP worked in partnership with the Community Development Foundation (CDF) to manage the bids.

Successful bidders are now recruiting at least one volunteer Active at 60 Community Agent. Community Agents have the flexibility to design innovative ways to encourage and inspire activity to help improve people’s later lives.

Active at 60 Community Agents will help people within their communities:

• take the first step in trying something new;
• understand how they will benefit from being more active, engaged and contributing to their communities, and
• build social contacts to help being active part of their routine.

The application process is now over and all funds have been allocated. 459 initiatives were successful in receiving funding. Approximately 2,800 Community Agents will be created as a result.

The project will be independently evaluated to provide evidence to encourage other areas and local communities to engage.

This project is part of the Government’s ambition to build a Big Society in which power is transferred from Whitehall to local communities to enable organisations and voluntary groups to play a far greater role in their community.

• Active at 60 (Community Development Foundation website)