Age UK Somerset has been with working university students from across the county to produce hard-hitting films about their classes for older people, some of which are offered in Burnham-On-Sea.
Ageing Well – a programme managed by Age UK Somerset – contacted the University Centre Somerset to ask if any of their Media Production degree students would be interested in working with them to produce a series of films.
The request was posted on the University’s student sites, prompting Kerrie Sloper, a first year student on the course, got in touch.
Ageing Well runs a variety of classes and activities across the county, including in Burnham-On-Sea.
More recently, there has been an increased emphasis on fall prevention activities. The charity runs “Stay Strong Stay Steady” classes, an evidence based falls prevention programme run in conjunction with Somerset County Council, as well as classes like Shibashi Tai Chi that focus on improving balance.
Over the course of the last few months, Kerrie and fellow student, Emily Hicks, have filmed classes all over the county, trying to capture the range of classes on offer, their benefits and the welcoming atmosphere. Kerrie has spent more than 200 hours editing the footage into a series of films that will help the charity to continue to build awareness of the classes they run in Somerset and explain their importance in maintaining the health and wellbeing of older adults.
Kerrie said: “I have met many brilliant people and seen some amazing classes in the process of this project. I am thankful I got the opportunity.”
Dianne Ramsay, Ageing Well’s Manager, says the films successfully got across the message that their classes were accessible to everyone, even older people who had a history of falls, or were anxious about falling.
The short film about the Stay Strong Stay Steady classes features two of the class attendees, whose lives have been turned round by attending. The film can be found on the Age UK Somerset website.
Dianne expressed how grateful she was to the students for making the project happen and for dedicating so much of their personal time. “They have been absolutely fantastic.”
For more information about Age UK Somerset’s classes, please contact them on 01823 345626 or visit www.ageuksomerset.org.uk.
