Press Release - Watch out there’s a Moose in the Hoose !!

An Edinburgh volunteering project, which helps keep people in care homes in contact with friends and family via email has been short listed for a £5,000 national Community Care award in London on 14 December

Moose in the Hoose is a partnership between Health and Social Care in Edinburgh and two voluntary agencies, ACE IT (Age Concern Edinburgh Information Technology) and RSVP (CSV's Retired and Seniors Volunteer programme)

The project brings together the interest and enthusiasm of some of the City's most frail elderly people; the commitment, time and expertise of older volunteers (all of them 50+ themselves) and the support and encouragement of the three agencies and their staff teams

In the year since Moose in the Hoose was launched over 50 individuals (living in 4 of the Council's residential Care Homes and 2 voluntary sector sheltered housing schemes) have benefited from the weekly visits of the 14 trained 'Moose' volunteers

Volunteers work in pairs and are matched to a care home or scheme. They provide friendly, regular and sustainable support and encouragement for residents and tenants to access the computer equipment. The equipment was funded by a capital grant from City of Edinburgh Council’s Corporate Services, linked to A City For All Ages – Edinburgh’s Joint Plan for Older People

Rachel Henry, Volunteer Development Officer with the City of Edinburgh’s Health and Social Care department, says “‘Moose in the Hoose’ is a great example of what can be achieved when organizations and individuals are encouraged to work together and share their skills, resources and time. Being short-listed for this national award is well-deserved recognition for everyone involved in the ‘Moose’ partnership and it high-lights the huge contribution that volunteers make to the work we do as a local authority.”

Jenny Ridge Chief Exec of ACE IT says “Through our main Computer Training project for the 50+ group, we have been making a difference to the lives of older people within the city for the past 5 years. This (Moose in the Hoose) extension of the project really demonstrates that ALL older people can benefit from the wonders of the Internet. We are particularly proud of a weekly live web camera link to relatives in Canada for one resident. We are also extremely proud of all our volunteers and their commitment to the project”

Terry Blair, Development Officer RSVP says“Through their creativity and commitment, Moose volunteers have managed to put families back in touch with each other and kept alive hobbies and interests. To date, numerous email connections have been made with families spread through out the globe, webcam links have been made with family in Canada, working songs from St Kilda have been recorded for posterity. Meanwhile crosswords have been solved, Christmas card labels have been printed and e-cards made”

Notes for Editors

Community Care Awards
Online: www.communitycareawards.co.uk

Passion, Commitment, Innovation… Do you have what it takes?
The Community Care Awards highlight and reward good practice and innovative ways of working. If you are involved with a project or are part of a team that is really making a positive difference to lives of service users then enter the awards – this could be your time to shine!

There’s a lot at stake – up to £15,000 in prize money for the overall winning team, national recognition and publicity through coverage in Community Care and the opportunity to showcase your work at Community Care Live events.

Age Concern Edinburgh Information Technology (ACE IT)

ACE IT is already an award winning project: from Local Community Group of the year, Edinburgh City Council awards, volunteering awards and national Digital Inclusion awards. Started in 2001, the main Computer Training project aims to encourage new and non confident users, specifically in the 50+ age group, to learn basic computer skills, Internet access and email. To date over 1500 older people have benefited from the courses run by ACE IT.

64% felt that using a computer has made a positive difference to their lives

81% said they found it easy to use a computer

ACE IT is part funded by Edinburgh Council’s Children & Families Dept

Contact Jenny Ridge Chief Exec & Director ACE IT

Phone 0131 477 3883

Email – jenny@aceit.org.uk

Web www.aceit.org.uk and www.aceit.org.uk/moose

City of Edinburgh Health & Social Care

Our vision is that: ‘All citizens of Edinburgh should enjoy a secure and fulfilling life, supported where necessary by a range of high quality services that enable them to achieve their potential and contribute to the success of their communities’.

Volunteer involvement plays a vital role in achieving this vision. As well as supporting many voluntary agencies in the City we have 200 departmental volunteers who work directly with us to enhance and extend the services we provide. This work is underpinned by The City of Edinburgh Council’s commitment to “Inspiring Volunteering: A Volunteering Strategy for Edinburgh”, which will be launched in the City Chambers on 6^th Dec 2006 and will be the first city-wide strategy on volunteering in Scotland.

Rachel Henry
Volunteer Co-ordinator/Development Officer
Phone 0131 525 8052

Email rachel.henry@edinburgh.gov.uk

RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme)

RSVP is part of CSV (Community Service Volunteers) and exists to encourage the growing number of those aged fifty plus to volunteer in their local area in Scotland. It taps into the wide range of skills and experience of mature people and harnesses them for the benefit of their local communities. The programme is volunteer led and inspired, with local organizers recruiting teams of volunteers to address local concerns and community needs. RSVP currently has around 1300 volunteers in Scotland.
Contact Terry Blair, Development Officer RSVP
Phone 0131 622 7766

Email tblair@csv.org.uk

Web www.csv-rsvpscotland.org.uk