Finnish academics stop off at PossAbilities

Academics from Finland with Professor Outi Jolanki of the University of Tampere

Heywood based social enterprise PossAbilities was the first stop on a whirlwind tour of the North West by a group of eminent academics from Finland.

The group, led by Professor Outi Jolanki of the University of Tampere, were in England looking at best practice in intergenerational living and how to reduce social isolation, particularly in older people.

Professor Jolanki said: “We chose to come to PossAbilites because we knew that they were rated as outstanding by CQC and that they are one of the UK’s leaders in providing shared lives and home share arrangements”.

Claire Morphet, of PossAbilities, explained the way the schemes work and talked of the range of promotional ideas for home share, which include the ‘Homeshare Express’ where people living alone will be taken on a steam train to Ramsbottom and treated to a cream tea.

“The Homeshare Express will be great fun, and it will introduce people to the idea of sharing their home in return for up to ten hours a week of social support”.

To find out more about home share or get yourself booked on the Homeshare Express (it’s free) contact homeshare@possabilities.org.uk or call 01706 626747.