Anti-ageism DVD Claims National Award

Winners of the health and social care award

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT are a member of The Older People's Project Team have won an award in the world of health and social care, for directing and producing a film in Rochdale on ageism.

The team claimed the trophy for winning their category at the National Health amp; Social Care Awards that took place at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel.

The winning project was for an anti-ageism film that uses the images and voices of real Rochdale citizens aimed at raising awareness, understanding and promoting positive images of ageing.

The awards ceremony was attended by representatives of the project team from Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT, University of Salford, Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Rochdale User Carer Action Forum, Rochdale Adult Services and Hopwood Hall College.

The award was presented by Ivan Lewis MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Care Services.  On receiving the trophy, Vera Hirst and Tracey Williamson thanked their fellow project team members and others who had played a part in making the video possible. They added "Every one of us is responsible for rooting out ageism and both our project and now this award will raise further awareness about this very important issue."

Judges were impresses to hear that 1500 hundred copies of the film were distributed and evaluation found that the video had reached far beyond its Rochdale origins. Its anti-ageism message had spread across the UK and is being delivered as far away as Canada and New Zealand. The video is mostly being used by educators and staff in care settings such as nursing homes to train students and staff who work in health and social care.

The team are now hoping to undertake other activities relating to dignity and would welcome offers from sponsors to help fund an anti-ageism poster campaign.

The video can be viewed at:

• www.ihscr.salford.ac.uk/SCNMCR/projects_anti_ageism.php

VHS or DVD copies are available from Val Griffin - Tel: 01706 865381