The launch of project “Platforms for Ageing Community Engagement – Exchange and Enterprise (PLACE-EE)” funded by The Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) 2014-2020 Programme took place on 12 September 2017 at the Seamus Heaney Homeplace, Bellaghy, Northern Ireland.
The opening address was given by Prof Cathy-Gormley Heenan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Impact) at Ulster, followed by talks from Mr Declan McGarrigle, Special EU Programmes Body; Prof Gerry Leavey, Director of the Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing (Project Lead for PLACE-EE); and Prof Roger O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of The Institute of Public Health in Ireland.
Led by Ulster University, this project will run for three years and will be delivered by the following team of international partners and associate partners:
Partner organisations are:
· Ulster University, Northern Ireland
· Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
· City of Skellefteå, Sweden
· Fjarõbggõ, Iceland
· Limerick County Council, Ireland
· Public Health Agency Northern Ireland
· Umea University, Sweden
Associate partner organisations are:
· Microelectronic Application Centre, Limerick, Ireland
· Institute of Public Health in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
· Åsele Kommun Social Welfare Office, Sweden
· The Healthcare Institute of East Iceland, Iceland
· AN Solutions, Iceland
· Checkup, Malmo, Sweden
· VA College, Iceland
· Tietohallintopäällikkö, Finland
Social exclusion and loneliness are increasingly prevalent in rural and remote regions of Europe and there is growing concern about the impact on mental health, independent living and patient rehabilitation after illness. PLACE-EE will seek to develop low cost, transnational solutions to improve the health and wellbeing of older isolated people in remote rural areas through innovative approaches to social inclusion.
This will include helping older citizens to understand and exploit digital technology for their health and social wellbeing and creating a range of digital solutions to the challenges identified by older people.