Rejuvenate Project

The project has 3 main components –

• North Belfast Men’s Shed – Currently open 3 days a week, this is somewhere for older men to come to and where they can take part in practical activities alongside other men. Please feel free to pop in and see for yourself anytime Tue – Thur 10am – 3pm, Unit 37, North City Business Centre, 2 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast BT15 2GG.

• Programme of events and activities – A rolling programme of recreational/ educational events and activities as well as regular visits by the Fold Brain Bus (mobile activity unit) to 3 sites across North Belfast.

• Newsletter (the North Belfast Male) – Distributed to 22,000 households across North Belfast 3 times a year, this provides information about a range of issues such as health, wellbeing, lifestyle, money management  and activity opportunities all of which have the potential to enhance and enrich older men’s  quality of life.

The Project is co-ordinated by the North Belfast Partnership and supported by a Development Partnership made up of community and public sector organisations.  At present the Project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund Reaching Out Connecting Older People Programme.  The project employs 2 full time members of staff – Alexey Janes, Project Co-ordinator and Geraldine Nelson, Development Officer.

Achievements to date

Over the last two years the project has worked with 265 men and is set to meet the target of benefiting over 400 men by the end of July 2015.  Two external evaluation reports along with internal evaluation exercises all suggest that the project has been effective in engaging older men in a range of social, practical and recreational activities, thereby reducing isolation and increasing health and wellbeing.  The project has also created opportunities for participants to take an active role in the design, delivery and day to day operation of the projects flagship initiative – the North Belfast Men’s Shed.