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Violence is Preventable
Because of isolation from family, and reduced mental and physical ability, many over 50s can be at risk of abuse, feel unsafe and have an unrealistic fear of crime. They are also at greater risk from accidents in the home.
Violence is Preventable aims to address these issues by bringing over 50s throughout Tayside together to discuss and better cope with the serious issues of crime and safety. The project will use accessible, fun and informative personal safety programmes involving a range of games, quizzes, songs and fact sheets. An entertaining personal safety DVD with contributions from the police and firebrigade addresses a number of issues, including a tendency amongst older people to perceive teenagers as anti-social.
By delivering these activities in care homes and sheltered housing, the project will improve awareness of health and safety, increase confidence and self-esteem and improve general quality of life amongst the over 50s.
Originally developed to address issues affecting teenagers and younger children, Eighteen and Under have adapted their Violence is Preventable programme and tailored it to the needs of older people. Having run a pilot for 300 over 50s they hope to extend the scheme and benefit many more people in Tayside over a 5 year period.
What the group says:
Why should people vote for you?
People should vote for us because violence is a plague upon the planet and we plan to prevent it by challenging and changing the attitudes that cause it to flourish. Our project began in Dundee and will soon include Tayside, but it has the potential to be rolled out across the UK and even further so that all older people and communities can benefit.
What will you spend the money on?
We will inject the money we deserve to win into immunising our population against fear and violence beginning locally and spreading the 'violence is preventable' messages into infinity and beyond. We will also develop further resources, carry out research and evaluations to make sure what we are doing has measurable achievements and make sure that as many people as possible in Tayside and beyond will benefit.
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