Here we present resources that have been developed as part of our Policy, Research and Evaluation work.
Our Policy, Research and Evaluation work underpins and supports our Arts, Active and Engage programmes through:
- Configuring the development of robust evaluation models which allow us to measure and report on the impact of our programmes and the social return on investment that we are providing;
- Configuring the work of Age & Opportunity in research frameworks to highlight our effectiveness and our capacity to support public policy development;
- Increasing our sustainability and impact by making best use of the organisational experience, insight and evidence to influence how policy is created from international to local levels and how it is implemented in practice in older people’s lives.
Over the last few years we have continued to increase our capacity to conduct and collaborate in research activities. To further this work, and also to support our policy of meaningful partnerships with older people, we established a personal and public involvement (PPI) group in 2021. This group is comprised of older people who are ‘experts by experience’ and who will be involved in our research and evaluation activities and collaborative research projects with other organisations.
Policy Position Papers
Based on the guiding principles of equality, diversity, inclusion and inspiration, Age & Opportunity’s policy positions reflect over 30 years of engagement with older people. All of these policy positions have been developed in consultation with wide range of stakeholders and are informed by our distinct focus, experience and expertise relating to increasing participation, informing public policy and challenging ageism in Ireland.
Connected and Intergenerational
Visibility and Acknowledgement
Policy
2025 – Age & Opportunity Pre-Budget Submission 2026 – Our Budget 2026 recommendations reflect learnings from participants and partners in our programmes and research and are directed towards Government Departments with the scope to help realise Ireland’s ambition to be the best country in which to grow old.
2025 – Age & Opportunity Response to Programme for Government 2025 – ‘the bare bones’ of what is needed to make a difference for current and future generations of older people in Ireland.
2024 – Submission to Commission on Care – A broad response to the request for views of the public on the provision of health and social care services and supports for older people in Ireland.
2024 – Home Care Coalition Pre-Budget Submission & General Election ask 2025 – In Budget 2025 the Home Care Coalition calls for increased funding of €327m to provide viable and sustainable Home Support Services into 2025.
2024 – Home Care Coalition Pre-Budget Submission Brochure 2025
2024 – Age & Opportunity Pre-Budget Submission 2025 – Our Budget 2025 recommendations which include our call for the establishment of an
Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People.
2024 – Taking Stock – What will the new Dáil mean for our older adult population? Age Alliance advice for the new Programme for Government.
2024 – Taking Stock – Alliance Section of NGOs – Is Government keeping its commitments to older people? Full report.
2024 – Taking Stock Executive Summary – Alliance Sector of NGOs – Is Government keeping its commitments to older people? Summary.
2022 – Telling It Like It Is: Combatting Ageism – Alliance Sector of NGOs – Explores the nature and impacts of ageism in an Irish context, and strategies to reduce it.
2021 – Telling It Like It Is – Alliance Sector of NGOs – What older people told us about their experience of Covid-19, and what Ireland should do about it.
2020 – Mind Your Language with Age & Opportunity – A guide which aims to encourage us to use language that is precise, accurate and non-judgemental in conversations with and about older persons.
2023 – Submission to Oireachtas Committee Community Arts – An outline of the issues surrounding and opportunities for the development of community and local arts.
2023 – Submission to Oireachtas Committee Inclusion in Sport – Submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee regarding Inclusion of Older Persons in Sport.
2023 – Pre-Budget Submission – Our view that Budget 2024 is a unique opportunity to address infrastructural deficits that compromise quality of life for many older persons.
2022 – Pre-Budget Submission – We urge the government not to lose sight of the calls for real and lasting social change coming out of Covid-19.
2021 – Pre-Budget Submission – We urge the government to take heed of calls from civil society that the pandemic should act as a catalyst for real and lasting social change.
2020 – Response to Programme for Government
2018 – Alliance Pre-Budget Submission to Dept of Justice on Ageism – We set out key aspects of what research tells us about ageism and age discrimination in Ireland.
2015 – Response to Culture 2025 – Our response to the 2015 proposal for a national cultural policy for Ireland, Culture 2025.
Research
2023 – Rights & Duty – A study about older persons’ perceptions of themselves as rights holders and how their rights are compromised by ageism.
2022 – Peer Research on Public Spaces – A study on the barriers and motivators of using public space for physical activity in Ireland.
2022 – Digitial Discussions – Factors influencing digital poverty and its effects on older people throughout Ireland. Full report.
2022 -Digital Discussions Summary Leaflet – Factors influencing digital poverty and its effects on older people throughout Ireland. Summary.
2021 – Is Ageism Ever Acceptable? Significant themes emerging from five online Citizens’ Assemblies.
2021 – Artists Residencies in Care Settings – Explores findings of previous ARCS report, with focus on the impact of COVID-19 on the implementation of arts programmes in social care settings.
2020 – Locked Up, Locked In, Locked Out! – The impact of Covid-19 on physical activity in older people’s groups. Full report.
2020 – Locked Up, Locked In, Locked Out! Summary Leaflet – The impact of Covid-19 on physical activity in older people’s groups. Summary.
2015 – Physical Activity and Sport Participation and Attitudes of Older People in Ireland – Examines the participation and attitudes of older people in Ireland towards physical activity and sport.
2013 – Human Rights and Older People in Ireland – Policy paper developed by the Human Rights and Older People Working Group
2012 – Learning to Power Change – The experience of four older groups in four counties of community education as a way of fostering critical thinking and civic engagement.
2012 – Count Us In – Older learners’ involvement in Department of Education & Skills-funded community education
2011 – Physical Activity, Sport Participation and Attitudes of Older People in Ireland – Findings of a 2011 survey of older people’s attitudes to and participation in physical activity and sport in Ireland
2010 – Well Into Older Age – What research says about the value of promoting participation of older people.
2009 – Physical Activity, Sport Participation and Attitudes of Older People in Ireland – Findings of a 2008 survey of older people’s attitudes to and participation in physical activity and sport in Ireland
2007 – Physical Activity, Sport Participation and Attitudes of Older People in Ireland – explore attitudes to and participation by older adults in sport and physical activity.
2003 – Home from home? – The views of residents on social gain and quality of life: a study in three care centres for older people. Dublin: Age & Opportunity.
Evaluations
Bealtaine Festival Evaluations: 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2008
2022 – FitLine Evaluation – An independent and objective evaluation of Age & Opportunity’s FitLine initiative.
2021 – Making Art at Home Pilot Evaluation – Evaluation of the ‘Making Art at Home’ pilot initiative which ran between April and June 2021.
2021 – Changing Gears Evaluation – Documents changes necessitated by the imposition of the Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020 and explores outcomes achieved by participants.
2021 – Care Hubs of Arts and Creative Excellence Evaluation – Evaluation of initiative.
2020 – Bealtaine at HOME Evaluation – Evaluation of ‘Bealtaine at HOME’ Festival which took place during Covid 19 lockdown period.
2019 – Sofa to Saddle Evaluation -Evaluation of Age & Opportunity’s first Sofa to Saddle initiative.
2017 – Transitions in Later Life – Final Report on the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s Transitions in Later Life Project.
2012 – Cultural Companions Pilot Evaluation – Evaluation of the pilot phase (January to October 2011) of the Cultural Companions programme.
2005 – National Grant Scheme Evaluation – Evaluation to ascertain whether the scheme is achieving its aim to increase the participation of older people in recreational sport and physical activity.
2004 – PALs Impact Analysis – Impact Analysis of the Physical Activity Leadership (PALs) Course.
2002 – Go For Life Evaluation – Evaluation of Age & Opportunity’s Go For Life initiative.
