Background

The Faith in Older People Project (FiOP) was formally established in 2005 as a result of work undertaken in St. Cuthbert's Episcopal Church in Colinton, Edinburgh where it was recognised that there was a growing number of older people in the congregation and community who required more consistent support and recognition.

The population in Scotland is ageing and probably a third of our people are retired or soon to be retired. People are not born old; they have a history and experiences to share - experience of change, love and loss, invention and progress.   FiOP takes a very flexible approach to age, but has a particular concern for those aged eighty and over.

Developing relationships and a better understanding of the issues facing older people who might be affected by ill-health, isolation, bereavement and financial constraints is a critical element of FiOP's work.

Our Vision

To mobilise faith communities to understand, celebrate, promote and support the importance of the diversity and social and spiritual needs of older members in their congregations and local communities.

Our Aims

FiOP wants to discover, celebrate and nurture the faith (in the widest interpretation of the word) which has supported and sustained people through their journey through life.

For many people, but not for all by any means, this may be expressed in terms of their religious commitment. But whether people have an active church/synagogue/mosque or other connection or not we want to know what it is that gives meaning and strength, hope and encouragement to them as they grow older and have to face multiple losses.

We want to support clergy and laity across all faiths; carers, whether family or professional, in a range of circumstances to respond to the needs of our older people.

• To encourage, engage and educate both lay and ordained members of faith communities.
  
• To devise and deliver training material in specialist areas.
  
• To encourage and support care homes to comply with the standards laid down by the Care Commission to meet the spiritual needs of their residents.
  
• To develop the structure and resources of FiOP.
  

FiOP will work in partnership with a range of organisations to forward its aims.