Cultural Companions brings community inclusion to older adults and marginalised groups in Cork

Established by Cork County Council in 2022 Cultural Companions, is an Age & Opportunity initiative, delivered in Cork County by Muintir na Tíre and funded by the Healthy Ireland Fund. It is a volunteer-based programme that brings individuals together to attend cultural events, such as theatre, music performances, exhibitions, and film screenings. Its primary goal is to reduce isolation, particularly among older adults and marginalised groups, by creating a sense of belonging and encouraging participation in community life.

The Healthy Ireland framework emphasises creating a supportive environment for well-being by promoting physical, mental, and social health. the Cultural Companions initiative in Cork County has successfully aligned with this framework by encouraging social inclusion and fostering connections through shared cultural experiences. This case study explores how Cultural Companions have contributed to the Healthy Ireland initiative across Cork County, excluding Cork City.

Strategic Alignment with Healthy Ireland goals

The programme addresses three key areas benefiting the health and wellbeing of  both its participants and the volunteers involved in delivering it.

1. Mental Health and Well-being

• Cultural Companions offers opportunities for individuals to build social connections, reducing loneliness and improving mental health.
• The programme is primarily peer-led, and peer supported. The calendar of events is selected by the members at quarterly planning meetings/coffee mornings and are tailored to provide uplifting, positive experiences that foster a sense of purpose and community They are selected to appeal to as many varied interests as possible

2. Promoting Active Citizenship

• The initiative empowers participants to engage in their local cultural life, fostering civic pride and
• It also encourages volunteerism, with individuals taking an active role in organising and promoting events and acting as meet n greeters to welcome new members to events.

3. Community-Based Approach

• Cultural Companions collaborates with local libraries, arts and cultural organisations and venues, and community organisations across Cork County, ensuring broad access to
• The initiative highlights Cork County’s cultural heritage while promoting Healthy Ireland’s focus on localised, sustainable health solutions.
• Cultural Companions engage with local active retired groups, Men’s sheds and similar groups to utilise local knowledge and to help identify persons that might best benefit from participation in Cultural Companions.

Variety of activities and locations means there is something for everyone

A diverse range of inclusive activities has been and continue to be provided since Cultural Companion began in 2022.

• Organising group attendance at cultural events across towns and rural areas in Cork County, such as Mallow, Middleton, and Bantry. Each event is preceded by an informal, social meet-up in a convenient café to allow members to get to know each other and to go to the venue in the company of each other.
• Collaborating with Cork County libraries to host workshops on creative writing and storytelling and in hosting public performances by members resulting from workshops.
• Partnering with arts organisations and local festivals to facilitate participation of Cultural Companions in programming. Collaborating with venues and organisations to facilitate reduced priced bookings to increase accessibility and to seat members together at events.
• Hosting “Coffee and Culture” mornings in local venues and libraries to combine social interaction with cultural discussion.

Success can be measured by the growth in participation and feedback provided

• Membership grew from less than 100 individuals in September 2022 to 670 at the beginning of 2025 (435 of these members are living in Cork County and 235 living in Cork City), with a marked rise in older adults and socially isolated individuals. A little over half of the members report attending Cultural Companion events 3 to 4 times per year.
• Members reporting “independently networking regularly with other members of Cork Cultural Companions outside of organised events” increased from 9% in 2024 to 17% in 2025 while those “independently networking occasionally” grew from 24% to 33% in the same period – indicating a positive increase in this outcome.
• In the most recent feedback 90% of members surveyed report that engagement with Cultural Companions, has had a positive impact on their mental health.
• A number of communication channels have been created to maintain engagement and growth. Members noted that the Cultural Companions monthly newsletter and other Cultural Companions communication and information sharing platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook have been useful in signposting other health and wellbeing initiatives in their area.
  

  ‘I attend Groovy Movers, chair yoga and mindfulness which I enjoy. I would not have known about such activities if I wasn’t a member of Cultural Companions.

Successful Community Engagement requires partnership working

In order to deliver this initiative the Healthy Ireland Coordinator in Cork County Council worked with structures with within the council and with many other stakeholders working in our communities resulting is the strengthening of relationships.

Cultural Companions has strengthened partnerships within Cork County Council through partnering with the Cork County Arts Office and Age-Friendly Ireland. Other external partners such as

HSE health improvement staff working on Healthy Ireland initiatives also made crucial contributions. Additionally Cultural Companions has built a reciprocal relationship  where it refers members to social prescribers, community health workers, Alone and Age Action and vice versa where appropriate.

The programme success that has been achieved by working together is the it has reached underserved areas through outreach efforts in rural communities, providing access to cultural events previously perceived as inaccessible and this is a product of so many entities working together.

Some examples of the innovative activities that have succeeded through Creative Communities and spawned follow on activities include:

• A Cultural Companions creative writing group in Bantry completed a facilitated course in 2023 and went on to perform their stories and poems to a large audience in Bantry Library. Members went on to independently contact Bere Island radio to organise a recording and broadcast of their work.

• Members in Mallow in January 2025 took part in a half day ceramics workshop in Orla O Visual Studio. Feedback was very positive e.g. “a wonderful, informative and enjoyable morning. Looking forward eagerly to the next one.” On foot of this workshop two of the previously ‘passive’ participants felt empowered to volunteer to take a more active role e.g. meeting and greeting at CC events in the future.

Obstacles that needed to be overcome

As with any initiative, particularly one that has been in place successfully over a number of years, require  responses to on going challenges. Examples for this programme and the considered responses include the following.

Continuing Evolution of Cultural Companions in Cork County

The programme continues to evolve and provide new services and looks to reach more of the citizens living in Cork County. Current plans include:

• Expanding the network of Cultural Companions to more remote areas of Cork
• Introducing intergenerational activities to connect younger and older generations through cultural events and workshops.
• Developing an online platform to allow participants to share their experiences and access digital events.
• Providing more workshops and more opportunities for lifelong learning, empowerment and connection.
• Collaborating with Cork Folklore Project (CFP) in 2025/26 to record life stories of Cultural Companions members. Eight members are currently training with CFP to learn how to record and help present recordings at future Cultural Companions events. This collaboration is both empowering for members and is a rich addition to the cultural heritage of Cork County.

The Cultural Companions initiative in Cork County has become a cornerstone in promoting social inclusion and mental well-being under the Healthy Ireland framework. By leveraging the power of culture to connect communities, the programme demonstrates a sustainable and impactful model for fostering health and happiness across diverse populations. Its continued growth holds significant promise for enhancing the quality of life in Cork County. For further information on this or other initiatives the Cork County Healthy Ireland Coordinator can be contacted here

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