Age Friendly Strategy and Action Plan Rural Needs Assessment
Age Friendly Strategy and Action Plan Rural Needs Assessment
SECTION 1 -
Defining the activity subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016
1A. Name of Public Authority.
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
1B. Please provide a short title which describes the activity being undertaken by the Public Authority that is subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016.
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Age-Friendly Strategy and Action Plan is being developed to support positive and healthy ageing of residents in the area.
1C. Please indicate which category the activity specified in Section 1B above relates to.
Developing a strategy and plan
Implementing a strategy and plan
1D. Please provide the official title (if any) of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service document or initiative relating to the category indicated in Section 1C above.
Age-Friendly Strategy and Action Plan
1E. Please provide details of the aims and/or objectives of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service.
Through the Age-Friendly Strategy and action Plan, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and partners aims to develop and promote local actions which foster the full participation of older people in community life and promote healthy and active ageing.
1F. What definition of ‘rural’ is the Public Authority using in respect of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?
Population Settlements of less than 5,000 (Default definition).
Details of alternative definition of ‘rural’ used. N/A
Rationale for using alternative definition of ‘rural’. N/A
Reasons why a definition of ‘rural’ is not applicable. N/A
SECTION 2 -
Understanding the impact of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service
2A. Is the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service likely to impact on people in rural areas?
Yes If the response is NO GO TO Section 2E.
2B. Please explain how the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas.
The Age-Friendly Strategy and Action Plan has been developed through consultation with individuals and groups from all parts of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council including rural areas.
The Age-Friendly Strategy will impact on (older) people in rural areas by supporting them to:
- Improve their health and wellbeing through improved knowledge and access to appropriate services;
- Access suitable forms of transport;
- To live independently, safely, and efficiently;
- To have access to relevant knowledge and information.
The actions will improve life for (older) residents in all areas of Causeway Coast and Glens including rural areas.
2C. If the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently from people in urban areas, please explain how it is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently.
The Age-Friendly Strategy and Action Plan outlines the following: As a largely rural area, most older people in the Causeway Coast and Glens area feel driving is essential. Public transport generally was considered infrequent and inconvenient, particularly in rural areas.
Under the theme: (Older) people in the Borough can access suitable forms of transport, the action plan includes actions specifically relating to rural residents including Action 2c – Advocate for improved rural transport and Action 2d – Advocate for increased investment in community transport, which is an essential service for many rural residents. This advocacy will work towards effecting changes to the identified transport deficiencies and while people in all areas may also benefit, those in rural areas will see the greatest benefits.
2D. Please indicate which of the following rural policy areas the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to primarily impact on.
Rural Businesses
Rural Housing
Jobs or Employment in Rural Areas
Education or Training in Rural Areas
Transport Services or Infrastructure in Rural Areas
Health or Social Care Services in Rural Areas
If the response to Section 2A was YES GO TO Section 3A.
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2E. Please explain why the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is NOT likely to impact on people in rural areas.
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SECTION 3 -
Identifying the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas
3A. Has the Public Authority taken steps to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas that are relevant to the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?
Yes If the response is NO GO TO Section 3E.
3B. Please indicate which of the following methods or information sources were used by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.
Consultation with Rural Stakeholders
Published Statistics
Consultation with Other Organisations
Surveys or Questionnaires
3C. Please provide details of the methods and information sources used to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas including relevant dates, names of organisations, titles of publications, website references, details of surveys or consultations undertaken etc.
The Age-Friendly Strategy and Action Plan was developed through co-design to ensure input from older residents.
The co-design process included:
- Engagement workshops with the Age-friendly Alliance and Age-friendly Forum
- Engagement with regional and local age-sector organisations and organisations whose services users include older people living in Causeway Coast and Glens
- Focus groups and meetings with statutory, community and voluntary organisations
- An online survey with open, narrative style questions which encouraged older people to share their experiences and opinions.
- Results from a quantitative survey that Causeway Coast and Glens had undertaken in 2021
- Postcard surveys on age-friendly themes, which were distributed through the Alliance and Forum members as well as public buildings, such as community and leisure centres and libraries.
- Focus groups and drop-in sessions in each of the Council’s seven District Electoral Areas (DEAs)
- Creative workshops and other targeted engagement with groups who might otherwise have not been heard.
Relevant publications aligned to strategy include: NI Programme for Govt, Active Ageing Strategy 2106-22, Making Life Better 2013-2023, Mental Health Strategy 2021-31, Sport & Physical Activity Strategy for NI, NI Housing Executive Older Peoples Housing Strategy 2021/22 – 2026/27, A Better Future Together, Community Plan for Causeway Coast and Glens, Causeway Coast and Glens Council Corporate Strategy.
3D. Please provide details of the social and economic needs of people in rural areas which have been identified by the Public Authority?
Age-Friendly is framed in eight domains – Housing, Social Participation, Respect and Social Inclusion, Civic Participation and Employment, Communication and Information, Community Support and Health Services, Outdoor Spaces and Buildings & Transportation.
The Age-Friendly Strategy includes actions focused on the following agreed outcomes which include actions around each of the 8 themes above:
(Older) people in the Borough have opportunities to improve health and wellbeing and can access appropriate services;
(Older) people in the Borough can access suitable forms of transport;
(Older) people in the Borough are supported to live independently, safely, and efficiently;
(Older) people in the Borough can access relevant knowledge and information.
The consultation process detailed in section 3c was undertaken to research the social and economic needs of older residents in the Causeway Coast and Glens area. This identified the needs for improvements in: social participation, access to Health Services, access to safe outdoor spaces, internet and communication access, accessible inclusion and transportation. The Action Plan details the proposed plans to address the needs identified through the consultation process.
If the response to Section 3A was YES GO TO Section 4A.
3E. Please explain why no steps were taken by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas?
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SECTION 4 -
Considering the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas
4A. Please provide details of the issues considered in relation to the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.
The issues considered centered around:
- The lack of a joined-up approach, often only part of the service required is delivered by one body and there is a lack of signposting or information as to how the other essential services can be accessed. This particularly impacted on individuals in rural areas due to the reduced opportunities for social interaction and ingrained self-dependence or .
- The fact that people often lacked to knowledge about what support systems are available.
- Help to live independently in their rural home.
- This in turn created a barrier for older people to access essential support.
- Lack of exercise opportunities for people in rural areas to stay fit and active.
- Lack of access to knowledge and information; whether via the internet or through written or verbal communication.
SECTION 5 -
Influencing the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service
5A. Has the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, been influenced by the rural needs identified?
Yes If the response is NO GO TO Section 5C.
5B. Please explain how the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, has been influenced by the rural needs identified.
The Age-Friendly Strategy and Action Plan was developed through co-design to ensure input from older residents from both rural and urban backgrounds.
The needs of residents were collated into eight domains of Age-Friendly Programmes – Housing, Social Participation, Respect and Social Inclusion, Civic Participation and Employment, Communication and Information, Community Support and Health Services, Outdoor Spaces and Buildings & Transportation.
Clearly defined actions were then developed with timelines to create a planned roadmap to achieve them. The planned actions will address needs of older rural and urban residents in Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
5C. Please explain why the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or the delivery of the Public Service, has NOT been influenced by the rural needs identified.
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SECTION 6 -
Documenting and Recording
6A. Please tick below to confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained by the Public Authority and relevant information on the Section 1 activity compiled in accordance with paragraph 6.7 of the guidance.
I confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained and relevant information compiled.
Rural Needs Impact Assessment undertaken by: Age-Friendly Coordinator
Division/Branch Leisure & Development; Sport & Wellbeing
Date: 25.01.24
Rural Needs Impact Assessment approved by: #
Division/Branch Leisure & Development; Sport & Wellbeing
Date: 25.01.24