{"id":4800,"date":"2019-03-27T16:21:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-27T16:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/a-o.catalystdna.com\/march\/?page_id=4800"},"modified":"2025-10-22T16:10:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T16:10:20","slug":"changing-gears","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ageandopportunity.ie\/engage\/changing-gears\/","title":{"rendered":"Changing Gears"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Changing Gears<\/strong><\/h3> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Do you want to discover more about yourself and your capacity to meet different challenges? Take stock of your skills and experiences and plan your next steps in life?<\/h3><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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What is Changing Gears?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Changing Gears is a course that supports people in dealing with transitions or significant life-challenges in mid to later life. It focuses on how we can build resilience, take stock, make changes, and bounce forward in life.<\/p>\n

How does it work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Changing Gears in-person delivery comprises two and a half hour sessions delivered weekly over five weeks; our online delivery comprises two-hour sessions delivered over four weeks.<\/p>\n

Changing Gears offers participants time to:
\u2022 Develop skills and techniques to build resilience and confidence in managing life-changes or transitions.
\u2022 Reframe transitions in their lives as opportunities with positive options, challenging negative stereotypes about ageing.<\/p>\n

The programme invites participants to reflect on challenges they have experienced in the past and life-lessons they have learned. In this way strategies for building resilience and managing change draw on personal experience to lay the foundations for a more positive and fulfilling future.<\/p>\n

Session 1 & 2: Life Transitions (Up to Now)
Session 3 & 4: Building Resilience (Here and Now)
Session 5: Mapping the future (Where to from Here)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe course content from beginning to end was very relevant. The different aspects of the course were so gently put. We came away totally satisfied at\u00a0 having participated and we gained so much information on what’s out there for us both nationally and locally.<\/strong>\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Kay Murphy, Ennis, Co Clare. Changing Gears participant, in-person, March 2023<\/p>\n

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“I am really enjoying the presentation, the interaction, the musical content and the general dynamic of the class. I look forward to attending the class in The Lexicon every Wednesday. Wishing you every success in your important work in Age & Opportunity”.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Teresa, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. Changing Gears participant, March 2025<\/p>\n

How can I get involved?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We run Changing Gears courses nationwide. If you are interested, please enquire with us as to whether there is a course taking place near you. We also deliver it to groups. So if your organisation\/group is interested, please contact us.<\/p>\n

The course can be adapted for participants with intellectual disability (ID).<\/p>\n

Full details of the next course, starting on 13th November 2025,\u00a0 can be found here:\u00a0 Changing Gears, Lucan, Dublin<\/a><\/p>\n

Contact<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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For information contact Fiona in our Engage Team via e-mail engage@ageandopportunity.ie\u00a0
<\/i>\u00a001 913 3922<\/a>
<\/i>engage@ageandopportunity.ie<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Engage Initiatives:<\/h3> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n Changing Gears<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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A five week course for people in mid-career or anticipating retirement.\u00a0 Changing Gears is about building resilience, taking stock, making changes, bouncing back and moving on in life. Find out more here<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n

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\n AgeWise Workshops<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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Professionally facilitated workshops that raise awareness of positive ageing. Suitable for older persons\u2019 groups; community, parish or library groups; and organisations and employers. Find out more here.<\/a><\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n Ageing with Confidence<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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A five week course of two-hour sessions run weekly. Ageing with Confidence is for older people in local communities who wish to increase confidence, encourage reflection and share experiences. Find out more here.<\/a><\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n

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\n Get Engaged<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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A training course for people aged 50+ that is designed to help make a difference within local organisations. It includes skills training on lobbying, research and working with the media and consists of two-hour sessions run weekly over four to six weeks. Find out more here.<\/a><\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n Azure<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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Azure explores how people with dementia-related conditions and the people who care for them can have a deeper involvement in cultural institutions and can participate in cultural activities. Find out more here<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n

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\n Spirituality<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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Our five week, online Spirituality course invites participants to explore spirituality from the perspective of their life experience using art, music, poetry and story. Find out more here.<\/a><\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n Bespoke Training<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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Bespoke training, advice and mentoring in the areas of arts, physical activity, active citizenship and lifelong learning.\u00a0 We can adapt and tailor one or more of our existing initiatives to suit your group or organisation’s needs. Find out more here<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n

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\n Creative Exchanges<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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A training course for participants to plan and facilitate arts activities for older people in care settings. Find out more here<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Engage Initiatives:<\/h3> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n Changing Gears<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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A five week course for people in mid-career or anticipating retirement.\u00a0 Changing Gears is about building resilience, taking stock, making changes, bouncing back and moving on in life. Find out more here<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \n \n \n \n \n <\/svg>\n \n \"AgeWise <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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\n AgeWise Workshops<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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Professionally facilitated workshops for employers and staff who are providing services to older people.\u00a0 These workshops are designed to create awareness of attitudes to ageing and older people. Find out more here<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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\n Aging With Confidence<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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A six week course (over six half-days) for older people in local communities that is designed to increase confidence, encourage reflection and share experiences. Find out more here.<\/a><\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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\n Get Engaged<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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An eight week (over eight half-days) training course for \u00a0people aged 50+ that is designed to help make a difference within local organisations including skills on lobbying, research and working with the media. Find out more here<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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\n Azure<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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Azure explores how people with dementia-related conditions and the people who care for them can have a deeper involvement in cultural institutions and can participate in cultural activities. Find out more here<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \n \n \n \n \n <\/svg>\n \n \"Spirituality\" <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Spirituality<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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Our five week, online Spirituality course invites participants to explore spirituality from the perspective of their life experience using art, music, poetry and story. Find out more here.<\/a><\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n <\/svg>\n \n \"Bespoke <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Bespoke Training<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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Bespoke training, advice and mentoring in the areas of arts, physical activity, active citizenship and lifelong learning.\u00a0 We can tailor a programme to your or your organisation’s needs. Find out more here<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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\n \n \n \n \n \n <\/svg>\n \n \"Creative <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Creative Exchanges<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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A training course for participants to plan and facilitate arts activities for older people in care settings. Find out more here<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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\n People with intellectual disability Physical Activity Leaders<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n
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Enabling people with intellectual disability (ID) to become physical activity leaders. Find out more here.<\/a><\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Learning, education and engaging with your local community offers a number of benefits including<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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  • happiness and empowerment<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • mental wellbeing<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • increased self-awareness and expression<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • development of new skills and interests<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • a sense of self control<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • social connection<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • reduced depression and anxiety<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • reduced stress levels<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • improved cognition<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • a sense of identity and personhood<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • increased self-esteem and confidence<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\r\n\r\n

    <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Changing Gears Do you want to discover more about yourself and your capacity to meet different challenges? 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