Midlife Future Planning

Our aim is to focus on organisations that employ workers over the age of 50. The training promotes age diversity and the benefits to both employers and employees. The aim is to address issues such as ‘loss of worker, loss of skills’ by retaining and retraining older employees.

Midlife Future Planning is a result of a number years work by Agewell, supported by Workwell and Sandwell Primary Care Trust. Between 2001 and 2003, Sandwell was the largest of eight national Pre–Retirement health check pilots, targeting people aged 50-65. Funding for the pilot came from the Department of Health and the pilots were overseen by the Health Development Agency.

Documented evidence from the Sandwell pilot stated that Pre-Retirement initiatives were not appropriate and often delivered too late to be able to make any significant changes. Hence Midlife Future Planning which is targeted at people at an age when they can still make changes and take control of their future.

What We Do

We deliver Midlife Future Planning courses to a number of organisations, both in and out of Sandwell, in different sectors such as; the Public Sector, Private Sector and Voluntary Sector. We have extensive experience of engaging with Small to Medium sized Enterprises and address the issues that effects them.

We also operate on a consultative basis by encouraging organisations to implement best practice. This includes policies and procedures that have an impact on older workers, examples of which are:

Flexible Retirement policies
Mentoring
Identifying transferable skills

Watch this video of Mike Babb (WMV file - approx 5.23Mb)

About The Course

The course is designed to enable the individual to consider some of the changes that can be made in midlife to help them plan for the future.

Consultation took place with employers and employees and also people who had recently retired to try to assess the needs of people within within the 50-65 age range.

The findings identified a need for information and advice on issues such as health, finance, leisure and relationships.

The findings also suggested that the earlier you were able to access this information the more you were able to plan and look at lifestyle changes to enhance your future years, hence midlife was better than pre-retirement courses.

Which Course is For You?

The lifestyle courses are designed to promote the benefits of planning for the future whether the choice is to retire or continue working. All courses are interactive and delivered in a relaxed and informal style to allow participants to discuss issues they feel are relevant to their personal needs. All courses are facilitated by Agewell Midlife Planning Coordinators.

Additional speakers are used to present specific issues such as health and finance.

The Midlife Future Planning Course can be delivered as a two day, one day or 1/2 day programme as well as modules.

Two day course includes:

Health information
Interactive case study
Flexible retirement and work options
Physical activity and leisure services
Maintaining a healthy mind and body
Finance and Pension planning

Course options

The one day course, 1/2 day course and modules are shortened versions of the two day course.

We will work with your organisation to design and deliver the appropriate course.

Feedback From Participants

“I’ve never thought about getting older therefore a ‘midlife future planning’ course rather than a ‘pre-retirement’ course was exactly what I needed.

The course gave me access to information not only about finances and flexible working arrangements, but also about the importance of planning for that ‘well earned’ leisure time, and maximising my health to be able to enjoy the opportunities which are available.”

Sandwell Primary Care Trust employee

“The finance module was very good, the trainer was excellent, knowledgeable and personable. It made finance and estate planning sound interesting. We were also very pleased with the organisation of the course."

A local Housing Association employee