December 2023 - Participatory Research Award with Age UK, Leeds

Following the partnership with Age UK Leeds, which formed in 2023 as part of the Healthy Ageing Award, echome is returning to Age UK with a Participatory Research Grant, funded by the University of Leeds, through Research England.
The project, led by Maria Kapsali and Sarah Astill, is aligned with the key commitment of Age UK, Leeds to offer opportunities to adults over the age of 50 to undertake physical and creative activity. The aim is to embed echome in the services offered by the charity, so that it provides an innovative digital tool which staff, volunteers and service users can use it in group sessions, home visits and independent home use, as part of the charity’s overall approach to ‘Ways to Wellbeing’. The academic team will work with Age UK, Leeds to:
1. Co-design a training package that would allow Age UK staff and volunteers to use echome in group settings and home visits.
2. Develop a set of bespoke resources that will enable service users to use echome at home and through online activities;
3. Equip Age UK with the echome equipment;
4. Evaluate and identify the outcomes of the intervention.