Wellbeing for over 60s

Helping older residents in Tower Hamlets overcome social isolation, improve their wellbeing and live well, whatever life throws their way

Creating connection where it’s needed most

Tower Hamlets has the highest proportion of older people in receipt of adult social care in England. Two thirds of our borough’s older people live with a long-term illness or disability, and research shows they are among the loneliest in the country.

Wellbeing for Over 60s is a programme that provides participants with wellbeing tools to adjust to aging in a positive way. Participants can engage with the project by joining our:

  • 6-week Level 1 course

  • Level 2 course (for Level 1 graduates)

  • Wellbeing Days

We invite W4060s alumni to give short talks at wellbeing days and courses, or to join the steering group to shape and develop the programme.

Whether their isolation comes from poor health, deprivation, widowhood, or simply living on their own, we help participants to connect with other older people and know that they are not alone.

  • "I like coming to the course because i feel lonely at home. I like us learning from each other, with different ideas. Thinking positive, not negative, good for mental health."

    Primla

  • "It makes you feel that much better, that people are listening to what you’re saying… things like that make you feel valuable, because your brain is still working, even though your body is just falling apart."

    Ruth

  • "We need activities like this in our community because we’re alone; we’ve no partners, we feel useless.”

    Salma

  • "It’s taught me to listen, rather than be thinking of what to say next"

    Alan

  • "I’m not very good on my own… It’s given me confidence to walk a bit. Getting washed and dressed, getting my coat on. It’s given me confidence to go out."

    Patricia

  • "It has helped me with my health, and stopped me from thinking inwardly about myself all the time."

    Margaret

  • "I appreciate this course so much - two hours ago my heart was heavy, now it is so light.”

    Joseph

  • "I’m feeling grateful that I came. I’m feeling so much better now, more energised.”

    Keith

Practical lessons for living well

During the course, participants learn new skills to help them get the most out of this later stage of life. Here are some of the lessons we cover throughout the course: 

  • How to recognise the positives in life and feel gratitude

  • Living in the moment, especially when times are rough

  • Finding and appreciating small pleasures

  • How to identify and express your needs to others

  • Helpful breathing exercises for a variety of situations

  • Speaking to yourself and others kindly and how this can improve our mood

  • Practicing kindness to ourselves and others to build meaningful connections and improve wellbeing (ours and theirs!)

We’re not past it yet!

Participants of our past courses have told us about how Wellbeing for Over 60s has impacted their lives. Some of the benefits they experienced include:

  • Meeting new people - building meaningful social connections and friendships

  • Feeling less alone

  • Having higher self-esteem and self-confidence

  • Feeling listened to, cared about and valued

  • An improved ability to manage difficult thoughts and feelings

  • More confident in expressing their thoughts and feelings to others

  • Focusing on the positive more than worrying about the negatives and dwelling on the past

  • Becoming less judgemental and better at seeing things from other people’s perspectives

Our impact

Read our annual reports for details on our achievements, impact, income, spending and staff.

Stay connected

Subscribe to our mailing list to join our community and be the first to hear about GCP news, updates and events. 

* indicates required