Dorset POPP is a complex and ambitious, person centred programme, led by the needs, desires, and aspirations of Dorset's older people.

Dorset has been broken down into 33 'clusters' to ensure local focus and delivery of all elements of the programme.

The vision of Dorset POPP is 'to build supportive communities to enable older people to remain living in their own homes for as long as they wish' by developing responsive, appropriate services and activities at a localised level. Dorset POPP has created eight desired outcomes to enable us to achieve this vision:

Older People in Communities:

• Have housing suitable for individual needs
• Are socially integrated and not isolated
• Are making a positive contribution and experiencing fulfilment as a result
• Feel secure and safe
• Feel free from discrimination
• Feel financially secure
• Are in good health in mind and body
• Have dignity, choice and control throughout their life, especially towards the end

These outcomes now support the Ageing Well in Dorset strategy and action plan, the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, Safe And Independent Living (SAIL), Transforming Social Care, Transforming Community Services and the vision of Total Place.

• Community Development Workers

  POPP employs three Community Development Workers who support local activities and opportunities for older people in their area.

• Leadership programme

  There is one Leader in each POPP cluster (33 in total). They work seven hours a week, helping to build supportive neighbourhoods so that older people can maintain their independence.

• Wayfinder programme

  There are two Wayfinders in each cluster (66 in total). They work nine hours a week to raise awareness of services, give out information and identify help and support available within local communities.

• Senior Forums

  Senior forums are local independent action groups for people over the age of 50. They aim to influence the planning, development and delivery of local services by getting their member's voices heard at key planning groups across Dorset. They also provide a valued social and communication network for many isolated older people.

• Where I live

  The POPP team are creating an online search that will list services and activities for over the 50s in Dorset.

• Contact

  If you would like more information about POPP, contact the Project Manager or your local POPP Community Development Worker.

• Community Commissioning Fund

  Dorset POPP has a pot of money to fund locally identified opportunities, activities and services and has developed an application and appraisal process to enable groups of older people to bid in for seed funding to develop local initiatives relating to the promotion of health, well being and independence.

• Background

  Dorset POPP was one of 29 national pilot programmes funded by the Department of Health (DoH) in 2006 to improve the quality of life for older people by making sure that opportunities are put in place locally to promote healthy lifestyles, independence and preventative services and activities.

• Evaluation of Dorset POPP

  Dorset POPP began as one of 29 national pilots testing new ways of improving the health and well-being of older people and helping shift resources currently tied up in more acute 'secondary' health care services (e.g. hospitals) in order to invest in more preventative and locally based support.