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The Third Age Foundation plays a very important role in the championing of older people in many different ways locally, nationally and internationally. The provision of activities & programmes and the delivery of services contribute to this role, but the Foundation is also involved in a range of other eclectic and complex initiatives, including
the following:
Annual Exchanges and Information Sharing
To facilitate the sharing of ideas, knowledge and techniques, TAF organises annual international exchanges with older adult and volunteer organisations. These exchanges have served to inform the design of activities & programmes and services, and have provided inspiration for the creation of innovative projects. Furthermore, these excursions have fostered strong collaborative relationships between the Third Age Foundation and the other participating organisations.
In the past, exchange trips have been organised with AUSER in Italy (encourages older people to remain active in social and economic life) and CRICA Voluntariate in France (older adult volunteering group). Depending on the capacity and the facilities of the host organisation, as many as 60 members of the Foundation take part in these exchanges. While TAF actively seeks funding opportunities for these exchanges, the majority of the time the travel and subsistence expenses are borne by the participating members.
Changing Perceptions of Ageing and Older People
To challenge the negative stereotypes associated with ageing and older people, TAF endeavours to focus attention on what has been achieved by its members and what can be achieved by other older people. This involves providing a positive example and developing press releases for the local and national media, to publicise upcoming TAF events and any accomplishments of the Foundation or its members.
Developing Opportunities for Older People
The Third Age Foundation believes it is essential that its members are provided with innovative opportunities that encourage them to explore more social and educational outlets. By exploring a diverse range of projects, it is thought that the members will not only be more likely to adapt to these new activities, but will also be more willing to and capable of tackling new challenges that they would have felt they were not able for before. These opportunities are typically developed from an observed need or adapted from existing programmes being used by similar organisations in other countries. Examples of unique and innovative initiatives include mentoring sessions with vocational education students, online questions and answer sessions with school children
and an intergenerational living history model.
Reaching Out to Marginalised People
Given that older people are often marginalised, TAF feels that it is essential to reach out to other such groups that may encounter similar barriers and who are at risk of being excluded from society. TAF has established close links with the traveller community, older people living in long-stay residential care, new non-Irish nationals who have come to live in the Summerhill area and local children.
Representing Older People and Influencing Policy Makers
TAF works in three ways:
- Ensuring representation on working groups and membership of committees and associations. TAF also has links with Age & Opportunity, Active Retirement Ireland and the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament
- Making submissions and presentations to various governmental, national and international bodies when the opportunities arise
- Publishing press releases and bulletins to highlight issues of concern and inequity associated with growing old in Ireland, in addition to using the media to promote positive aspects of ageing
Supporting and Assisting Older People
The activities & programmes and services of the Third Age Foundation are designed so that the participants and users are not just recipients, but are empowered to help themselves and other members. In providing a structure of support and guidance, TAF aims to foster a reciprocal nature within the organisation, which encourages members to more actively participate in the Foundation’s projects and to contribute to the further development of TAF. This in turn instills a sense of ownership over these activities and a sense of responsibility to assist and support the other members of the Foundation
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Championing Older People 