Spring Chickens

Spring Chickens is an innovative creative arts project which focuses on increasing creative expression and engagement among older people throughout Northern Ireland.

Today older people are increasingly valued because of their memories rather their contribution to the present and the future. Compounded by the impact of age discrimination, poverty and isolation, the need to empower older people as catalysts of change is both urgent and compelling.

By increasing the sustainability of our theatre work among older people, we hope to motivate, inspire and support them to envision ways that have potential to implement change within their own communities.

Through building capacity among older groups, we will provide a context for them,

to develop and sustain stronger relationships at community level
to educate young people about their concerns
to challenge general perceptions about the value and worth of the potential of the older generation in today's society.

The Spring Chickens Programme has been a very successful one. It has managed to achieve two quite distinct objectives.....bringing interest and quality to the lives of older people, and raising awareness about society’s often misguided perceptions about older people, and their role.’
External Evaluation Report, December 2009.