Awarded £2,975. Older people are a large (and growing) population who are often marginalised in knowledge exchange and, generally, in society. This project engages older people in social science through a festival format. Its particular focus is the ways in which individuals experience places and spaces and what this means for their health and wellbeing. This is vitally important, as going outdoors in later life can often seem daunting but is essential for good quality of life.
The project shares emerging findings from Mobility, Mood and Place (MMP), a £1.6m study exploring how places can be designed collaboratively to make pedestrian mobility easy, enjoyable and meaningful for older people. It involves two events in two different venues for two different kinds of older audience. Building on a format trialled with a small group of older people at the Midlothian Science Festival, our ‘Habitats for Happy Ageing’ events will comprise a mix of expert talks, practical demonstrations and interactive activities. The first event marks the UN International Day of Happiness; the second is being held as part of the 2015 Edinburgh International Science Festival.