Join us for a free online gathering, in partnership with Time & Talents’ Older Men’s Groups.
The ‘Communities of Practice Forum: Exploring Older Men’s Participation in Arts & Wellbeing’ is an informal space for arts and wellbeing providers to meet and share ideas around developing better support and engagement for older men in arts & wellbeing services.
The July 2026 Forum session will be led by Time & Talents’ Older Men’s Groups.
Presenters:
Shaun Packham: Time & Talents’ Community Activities Facilitator – Older Adults
Shaun will be joined by participants from Time & Talents’ Older Men’s Groups
The session will focus on:
- Individual stories from participants
- The development of T&T’s Older Men’s Groups over the past 10 years, including learnings about Accessibility, Inclusion and Communication
- How the group has fostered shared ownership, and how participants contribute to their group and the wider community.
About the ‘Communities of Practice Forum – Exploring Older Men’s Participation in Arts & Wellbeing’:
This forum is an informal space for peer sharing and learning. We meet twice a year and anyone who is interested in developing their practice around supporting and working alongside older men in arts and wellbeing is very welcome to join!
This forum is for arts and wellbeing providers who want to:
- reflect on learnings from Older Men’s projects
- celebrate the successes
- discuss the challenges
- meet other people interested in sharing & developing their work alongside older men
- and discuss ideas for how we can create more opportunities for supporting and engaging older men in arts and wellbeing services going forward.
Join us to share ideas, refine your working practices and meet other progressive people who are striving to innovate and excel in arts and wellbeing services for older people.
About Time & Talents:
Time & Talents is a lively, busy community organisation based in Rotherhithe, South East London, with a history stretching back 139 years. A core part of our work is the Older Adult’s programme, providing opportunities for people over 55 to connect and share their time and talents, including a wide range of volunteering opportunities, skills-sharing, and opportunities to socialise. We want to connect neighbours close and far, to reduce isolation and build a supportive, resilient community.
T&T’s Older Men’s Groups
The Wednesday Walking Group and Pub Club support older men’s physical as well as mental wellbeing by creating welcoming spaces embedded in the local community. The aim of both groups is to improve the overall health of the participants and combat the loneliness, isolation and lack of community participation often experienced by older men, who can tend not to talk about their feelings or health. We can provide information along with a safe, secure place to talk things over – as well as opportunities to create connections and have fun!
Shaun Packham Biography
I gained a good BA degree in 1980 but could not work out how to use this in the real world. This led to several years of full-time volunteering with adults with learning difficulties and the homeless. This gave me time to realise what I really wanted from work – to work with my hands, be creative and to work outdoors. This led to over 30 years of self-employment as a carpenter and builder working on many community-based projects such as adventure playground building, self-build and collaborating with schools.
During Covid I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and, following treatment, I realized that, physically, I could no longer carry on with my work. A friend of my wife had heard of a job at Time & Talents as an activities facilitator, and I applied and got the job at the age of 63. This involved one day running a dementia group; the other day running a men’s walking group and a men’s pub club. I now work three and a half days, no longer running the dementia group. My roles now include co-facilitator on our Shed project, leader on the Walking and Pub groups, and organiser of a Cycling project for older people. I have also set up and run a cycle repair project here at Time & Talents once a month.
I really enjoy the practical side of my work and hope to continue for as long as I’m physically able. When I retire, I hope to carry on with all the groups, but as a member!
Date:
Wednesday 22nd July 2026, 1 – 2.30pm BST