Cornwall’s two Silver Dreams projects Active Plus and Bbass are now working together following a meeting last week.

Active Plus Silver Dreams delivers 6 week courses to people aged over 50 that are unemployed, have become socially isolated, are suffering ill health and wellbeing, hospital leavers or are carers. The content of the course is designed to improve communication and teamwork skills and encourage social interaction through a variety of practical teamwork and problem solving activities, to ensure people are safe and secure at home the course provides training in Fire Safety, Crime Prevention, First aid, CPR and basic IT skills. The goal is to encourage and support the group to become involved in volunteering with the local community, participation in other activities or to continue meeting as a group to provide support and friendship to each other. During the 6 weeks other advice and guidance is provided depending on the groups needs, this includes fall prevention, employability training, healthy eating, fitness and health and the presence of local groups to discuss activities and opportunities.

Towards the end of each course, one of the Co-ordinators from Bbass will be attending to offer the groups the opportunity to volunteer with Bbass, putting their improved communication skills and social interaction to good use as befrienders or advocates.

The partnership doesn’t end there though, as our volunteers will have the opportunity to refer their clients to Active Plus. By refering their client’s we hope that this will help our volunteers to support their client’s to increase their social interaction, make new friends and learn new skills which will ultimately provide client’s with a focus once they leave Bbass.