Community Education in Action: Visiting Age & Opportunity’s Engage Programme
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Published on
July 1, 2026
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Age & Opportunity is a national Irish non-profit organisation, whose vision is an Ireland where older age is recognised as a time of opportunity, and where all older people can be active, visible, creative, connected, and confident about ageing.
Age & Opportunity delivers a range of programmes across three core areas, providing opportunities that support positive ageing.
Active Programme
The Active programme is designed to get us active and to participate more in recreational sport and physical activity.
Initiatives include:
- PALS (Physical Activity Leaders) – training older people to become physical activity leaders in their communities
- CarePALS training – supporting staff and volunteers working in care homes to become physical activity leaders
- FitLine – a volunteer-led telephone service helping people to get more active
Arts Programme
The Arts programme supports the participation and representation of all older people in cultural and creative life in Ireland. It does this by supporting and resourcing artists, arts audiences and arts organisations and encouraging involvement in arts activities by people all over Ireland.
It’s annual initiative every May, is The Bealtaine festival – Ireland’s national festival celebrating the arts and ageing.
Engage Programme
The Engage programme provide a range of courses and workshops promoting personal development, community collaboration and active citizenship.
A few weeks ago, our Community Education Officer, Lorraine O’Connor, had the pleasure of attending one of these Engage initiatives — a session within the Changing Gears course. The in-person course takes place over 5 sessions and supports older adults to navigate significant life transitions, build resilience, and explore new opportunities and challenges. These transitions could be to do with retirement, health challenges, career shifts or bereavement, among others.
The session was facilitated by Brian Dooney, Training Development Facilitator with Age & Opportunity’s, Engage programme. Twenty participants attended, coming together to explore ways to build resilience in later life.
The focus of the session was on staying active and healthy, and understanding the benefits this brings. It was an engaging and interactive discussion that highlighted how small, daily changes can have a significant impact on long-term health and well-being.
Brian emphasised that “mobility is independence.” While ageing can bring challenges, he encouraged participants to see it not as a wholly negative experience, but as an opportunity shaped by mindset and small, positive actions taken one step at a time. As he reminded the group, “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.”
Another exercise during the session invited participants to reflect on their social networks, work volunteering, hobbies, and interests, and consider, through whom and how, they can achieve their own personal goals in many other aspects of their lives.
Participants actively shared their knowledge of the supports and activities available within their communities. These included initiatives such as the Age-Friendly University programme at DCU and the ExWell Programme—a medically supervised exercise programme focused on wellbeing, which also offers weekly member lectures via Zoom.
In addition, participants highlighted the value of local libraries, volunteering opportunities, choirs, and a range of other community-based activities. Their contributions demonstrated the depth of experience, expertise, and continuous learning present within the group.
Speaking to participants at the workshop highlighted the value of creating supportive spaces where individuals can reflect, share experiences, and plan positively for the future. Participants spoke about the lack of available information available to older people. Whilst there is information, it is not that easily available, which can be a barrier to participation. Some older adults may have literacy needs also, and need to know where to go for support.
When asked what attending the course meant to them, participants spoke with honesty and enthusiasm. Pauline shared, “Coming here encourages me to do more courses.” Barry added that it had been “a wake-up call to the positive aspects of ageing.”
Anne spoke about being a lifelong learner, emphasising her curiosity and passion for continuous learning. “As I age, I will remain curious and will always want to learn”.
Agnes added, “Despite what happens in life, I will always come here—it really makes a difference in my life.”
Programmes offered by Age & Opportunity are crucial in supporting mature learners to lead positive, healthy lives, while reinforcing the belief that, as we age, we continue to contribute meaningfully to society—and that education remains an essential part of this journey.
AONTAS looks forward to continuing its work with Age & Opportunity to support learning across the lifespan.
If you would like to learn more about Age and Opportunity, please visit their website https://ageandopportunity.ie/
Email: info@ageandopportunity.ie Phone: 353 (0) 126 8607
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Community Education in Action: Visiting Age & Opportunity’s Engage Programme
Written by
Published on
July 1, 2026
Share This
Age & Opportunity is a national Irish non-profit organisation, whose vision is an Ireland where older age is recognised as a time of opportunity, and where all older people can be active, visible, creative, connected, and confident about ageing.
Age & Opportunity delivers a range of programmes across three core areas, providing opportunities that support positive ageing.
Active Programme
The Active programme is designed to get us active and to participate more in recreational sport and physical activity.
Initiatives include:
- PALS (Physical Activity Leaders) – training older people to become physical activity leaders in their communities
- CarePALS training – supporting staff and volunteers working in care homes to become physical activity leaders
- FitLine – a volunteer-led telephone service helping people to get more active
Arts Programme
The Arts programme supports the participation and representation of all older people in cultural and creative life in Ireland. It does this by supporting and resourcing artists, arts audiences and arts organisations and encouraging involvement in arts activities by people all over Ireland.
It’s annual initiative every May, is The Bealtaine festival – Ireland’s national festival celebrating the arts and ageing.
Engage Programme
The Engage programme provide a range of courses and workshops promoting personal development, community collaboration and active citizenship.
A few weeks ago, our Community Education Officer, Lorraine O’Connor, had the pleasure of attending one of these Engage initiatives — a session within the Changing Gears course. The in-person course takes place over 5 sessions and supports older adults to navigate significant life transitions, build resilience, and explore new opportunities and challenges. These transitions could be to do with retirement, health challenges, career shifts or bereavement, among others.
The session was facilitated by Brian Dooney, Training Development Facilitator with Age & Opportunity’s, Engage programme. Twenty participants attended, coming together to explore ways to build resilience in later life.
The focus of the session was on staying active and healthy, and understanding the benefits this brings. It was an engaging and interactive discussion that highlighted how small, daily changes can have a significant impact on long-term health and well-being.
Brian emphasised that “mobility is independence.” While ageing can bring challenges, he encouraged participants to see it not as a wholly negative experience, but as an opportunity shaped by mindset and small, positive actions taken one step at a time. As he reminded the group, “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.”
Another exercise during the session invited participants to reflect on their social networks, work volunteering, hobbies, and interests, and consider, through whom and how, they can achieve their own personal goals in many other aspects of their lives.
Participants actively shared their knowledge of the supports and activities available within their communities. These included initiatives such as the Age-Friendly University programme at DCU and the ExWell Programme—a medically supervised exercise programme focused on wellbeing, which also offers weekly member lectures via Zoom.
In addition, participants highlighted the value of local libraries, volunteering opportunities, choirs, and a range of other community-based activities. Their contributions demonstrated the depth of experience, expertise, and continuous learning present within the group.
Speaking to participants at the workshop highlighted the value of creating supportive spaces where individuals can reflect, share experiences, and plan positively for the future. Participants spoke about the lack of available information available to older people. Whilst there is information, it is not that easily available, which can be a barrier to participation. Some older adults may have literacy needs also, and need to know where to go for support.
When asked what attending the course meant to them, participants spoke with honesty and enthusiasm. Pauline shared, “Coming here encourages me to do more courses.” Barry added that it had been “a wake-up call to the positive aspects of ageing.”
Anne spoke about being a lifelong learner, emphasising her curiosity and passion for continuous learning. “As I age, I will remain curious and will always want to learn”.
Agnes added, “Despite what happens in life, I will always come here—it really makes a difference in my life.”
Programmes offered by Age & Opportunity are crucial in supporting mature learners to lead positive, healthy lives, while reinforcing the belief that, as we age, we continue to contribute meaningfully to society—and that education remains an essential part of this journey.
AONTAS looks forward to continuing its work with Age & Opportunity to support learning across the lifespan.
If you would like to learn more about Age and Opportunity, please visit their website https://ageandopportunity.ie/
Email: info@ageandopportunity.ie Phone: 353 (0) 126 8607
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