Fermanagh Omagh Interagency Forum for Older People (FOIF)

The FOIF is an excellent working example of an approach to collaborative working. It exists to ensure information is shared amongst the partner organisations to try to prevent duplication and drive services for older people in the Fermanagh and Omagh district. Meeting bi-monthly the group membership comprises of a range of community, voluntary and statutory bodies on an operational level and is facilitated and chaired South West Age Partnership (SWAP).   Information is filtered freely in both directions through SWAP ensuring older people have a voice and are kept up to date. In addition to information sharing at meetings SWAP distribute information via social media channels and email.

Derek Moran, Make the Call; Department for communities is a member of the Fermanagh Omagh Interagency Forum for Older People.

‘We find this forum very beneficial and an excellent opportunity for networking with community and statutory organisations.  We have built meaningful relationships which have resulted in a number of referrals requesting Needs Assessments for individuals and households across Fermanagh and Omagh areas to ensure they are not missing out on financial support’

Age NI, the leading charity for older people in Northern Ireland underlines this work.

‘SWAP have facilitated a great Interagency Forum for Fermanagh and Omagh driving partnership working and collaboration for over 10 years. Age NI recognises that being an older people led interagency this is a leading and excellent model of partnership working involving key stakeholders coming together with older people to plan, design and develop health and wellbeing services that matter the most to them promoting a positive approach to ageing. It’s an ideal interagency that can discuss issues raised by older people where key partners work alongside older people to come up with creative solutions to benefit the older population’

A directory of services which includes member of the FOIF includes many organisations which operate within the Fermanagh and Omagh District Area and provide services for older people has been developed by SWAP and is funded through NI Housing Executive.    It is currently only available online and will be updated regularly.

If you are an organisation who would like to be included within this please contact Allison Forbes at South West Age Partnership on aforbes@southwestagepartnership.co.uk.