Where we began

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The Inspired Taskforce, known then as the Inspired People's Project, was created in 2014 to meet the rising need for social support for Older people in our local community, parented by Levenshulme Inspire, we saw a larger than expected uptake of activities which demonstrated a great need for these kinds of activities among the older community. 

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In 2016, the Inspired Taskforce was born as the Inspired People's Projects campaigning arm designed to make our area more age-friendly by taking action through protests and demonstrations to flag local issues to the city council to make change. Over a period of 5 years, the Inspired Taskforce campaigned to make our local area more age-friendly by completing taxi driver training with local taxi firms, add age-friendly benches to the high street and encourage businesses to add a seat in their stores, have stores open their toilets for public use and spray paint around pot holes and broken dropped kerbs so Manchester city council can replace/repair. The Inspired Taskforce achieved area wide "Age-friendly" for Levenshulme in 2019.

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Fast forward to 2021, the Inspired Taskforce became an independent organisation, no longer parented by Levenshulme Inspire , as a Community Interest Company with the aim to reduce the effects of Covid-19 and it's lockdowns.

We provided at home support: prescription runs, fresh cooked food delivered to your home, at home repairs, phone a friend tree, shopping deliveries, trips to doctors and hospital appointments, at home social visits and when possible we ran social support groups in person in socially distance settings.  We even ran a Radio show with the support of ALL FM radio station to keep older people informed of new news about covid, our activities and what support we offer, you can listen to all of our Radio Shows HERE

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When social distancing came to an end and lockdown restrictions had finished we set-up many different groups to support a wide range of after affects of long-term quarantining at home such as, Chair-based exercise classes to get those muscles moving and to build core strength, social support and discussion groups to provide mental support and stimulation, arts workshops and classes to aid in social reengagement and access to recreational activity and many more

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In 2024, the Inspired Taskforce received it's charity status and continue to develop its programme of activities and services. 

This year alone we have developed a Healthy Living Initiative to provide free fresh fruit at our sessions, began developing our fly-tipping campaign and began our Men's Social Group alongside all of the other great things we are doing! 

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Our Mission Statement, Vision & Value

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Inspired Taskforce CIO is an ambitious older-person led organisation that aims to improve physical and mental well-being, as well as increase friendships and networks in the community through a range of activities and services that tackle the root causes of social isolation. Currently working from its ‘parent’s’ base of Levenshulme Inspire, the Taskforce was established as an independent organisation in May 2021 with the aim of reducing social exclusion in Levenshulme and surrounding areas for older people through social, educational, physical and mental well-being activities and volunteering opportunities. It also aims to engage with service providers so that they are able to adapt services to better meet the needs of older people, as well as to campaign for positive change on a range of issues to make the world a better place for older people.

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Key achievements so far accomplished include successfully providing a host of activities that have demonstrably improved the physical and mental health and well-being of service users, allowing them to maintain independence and make new friends. It has also provided volunteering and learning opportunities for its members.

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The organisation has a small staff team of four people, and is overseen by a Board of Trustees, made up of Nine older people aged between 66 and 79 years, who all live locally and have diverse and appropriate experience to contribute to leading Inspired Taskforce CIO.

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To make the world a better place for older people (starting with our own backyard in Levenshulme, Longsight and Gorton).
Our values are:

• Age-positive – championing the talents, the skills and lived experience of ‘recycled teenagers’ everywhere. Older and bolder!

• Care – for the environment and respect for each other.

• Friendliness – we actively facilitate making new friendships and using community spaces for connecting with other local people.

• Hearing – not just listening! Our collective voice is a powerful agent of change.

• Inclusion – valuing everyone equally.

• Kindness – compassion for ourselves and the needs of others around us. A word and a smile go a long way.

• Lifelong educators – still learning after all these years, and passionate to share knowledge with the future old (younger people).

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The aims of Inspired Taskforce CIO are:

1. To champion the talents, the skills and lived experience of older people everywhere.

2. To reduce isolation and loneliness by facilitating new friendships and using community spaces for connecting with other local people.

3. To increase well-being and quality of life in older people to improve confidence and independence.

4. To campaign and use our collective voice as a powerful agent of change to make our communities better places for older people.

5. To network and work in partnership with other providers and services to improve outcomes for older people.

6. To promote intergenerational learning opportunities, knowledge-sharing, as well as lifelong education.

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View our most recent business plan by clicking the button below

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How can I get Involved?

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That depends on how would you like to get involved!

When run a host of activities throughout the week, if you are looking to participate as an older person you can just turn up to any of our sessions (Some do have a cost attached and you can find out the cost by either viewing our programme of activities on our activities page or by calling us on 0161 676 8450)

If you want to give your time and volunteer you can visit our volunteering for the Taskforce webpage HERE or by clicking the button below.

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Looking to give financial support instead? The Inspired Taskforce rely on local small community pots of money and council funding to continue its services. Our main current funder is the Lottery supporting communities fund. If you wish to give a small donation click the button below!

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