PR 00172 - Explore

What is the problem/issue you are trying to address?

Combatting loneliness for the people aged 70 – 79 and people with second residencies in the area by using especially improved communication tools and offering targeted leisure offers.

Pilot aim:

The partners (Lead = Westtoer) and the city of Oostende would like to find new methods how to engage with the elderly, and specifically second residents. In 2016 Westtoer published a report on the ‘Impact of second residents on Coastal tourism’. The report included quantitative information of possible communication methods. This pilot aims to apply new methods based on this research and needs assessment. E.g. there is an interest of 41% of second residents to have more contact with local residents

Stakeholders on your pilot

• 20th of June 2017: focusgroups with elderly and second residents older then 55 + who visit the Belgian Coast: 10 participants
• 6th of July 2017: A Sea of time: citizens, experts and local entrepreneurs
• 19th of September 2017 : focus group ‘Vrijetijdsmobiel’ (‘Leisure Mobile’): sports department, contact point seniors in need, the district manager of the city centre, S-Plus, the culture department (UiTPAS), the library of Ostend, the cultural centre ‘De Grote Post’ and the elderly and volunteer policy coordinator.
• Workgroups ‘neighbourhood residents’

Pilot beneficiaries

• Second residents
• Local business providers, such as restaurants, hotels, attractions providers

The goal is to have an increased participation in leisure activities using especially improved communication tools and to involve elderly and second residents more to prevent loneliness.

Ideas generated

8 ideas were concretely developed during the focus group with second residents:

• Extension cultural offer for second residents
• Inclusive community network
• Meet and greet
• Welcome in our community
• Speeddating
• Reduction voucher
• Fidelity card for second residents
• Workshops with starters kit

Values for selection

• Flexibility: second residents want to decide themselves when they participate. They don’t want to enter into an agreement to participate e.g. on a weekly base.
• Being active: participants expressed that they wanted to join a local cycling or hiking club
• Involvement: participants would consider to be a volunteer and to get to know their neighbours

Acceptability

How did the project team, other organisations and your participants react to the project idea? What is the level of involvement/commitment from each group at this stage? Evidence could include: participant observation at initial project meetings and the reflections of the project group.

Demand

What is the demand for your project? How do you know this, what information did you use to help you?

Implementation/Practicality/Organisational/Financial Feasibility

How feasible does your project look to your team at this stage in terms of practicality, and financial feasibility?

Additional assets and resources

Do you need any additional assets or resources including expertise to help you deliver your project?

Adaptation

Have you made any changes to your original plans, why did you make the change and what information did you base your new plans on? For instance any changes you made to the context, format, timing, setting or population at this stage?

Integration

Do you think this project will work within the current local setting/structures? What changes need to be made to integrate your new project into existing infrastructure or programs?

Selected ideas for next phase

BWesttoer would like to select the idea of developing a product such as the fidelity card for second residents, a type of “second-residency” card in which this target group can profit from reductions and opportunities to gather with local inhabitants. This card doesn’t bring along a kind of obligation, but will encourage them to participate in activities. The development of this card will be accompanied by a strategic communication towards second residents.