Work & Leisure

Activity 1: Game - work or leisure activities? (Annex 1 – 10 minutes)

Begin by telling the individual (or group) the activity is a game to get them thinking about the difference between work and leisure activities.

If you work with a group of people (max. 6) let them work in pairs for this game.

• Give each pair a sheet of flipchart paper divided into two zones: Zone ‘work’ and zone ‘leisure’
• Give the groups all pictures (see annex 1) and tell them to take one picture at a time and discuss if it shows a work activity or a leisure activity.
• Then ask them to place the picture in the appropriate zone of the flipchart. The game is complete when the group discussed and placed all the cards on the chart

The participants that have all cards correct (leisure= pictures 1, 5, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16; work = all other pictures) win this game. Think about an incentive that would motivate to do the Activity.

For those who made some of the activities incorrect, ask to elaborate why they made this choice. How can they see or know that something is a work activity and not a leisure activity? If the activity was difficult, try again later.

Activity 2 : My work experiences (Annex 2 – 10 minutes)

Ask the participants to tell something about their own work/jobs or day activities (for those clients that go to a day centre or do activities at the residence).

Print out the worksheet ‘work experiences’ (Annex 2) for each participant. Give them 10 minutes to answer the questions. Help if necessary.

Activity 3: My leisure/hobbies/recreational activities (annex 3 – 1 hour)

Print out the pictures of ‘leisure/hobbies/recreation’ activities (Annex 3) + the activities.

• First ask the participants to describe what they do during leisure time. Let them fill in the week schedule (page 2 annex 3). Let them think about the previous week, things they did as leisure /recreational or as a hobby. Use the overviews (pages 4 - 9 ) to help them if needed.
• Second, ask them to look at the pictures you printed (pages 4 – 9) and ask them to guess which leisure or recreational or hobby activity they see on the picture and ask them if they also do this activity sometimes. If they do, ask them to highlight it with a fluo marker on their own overview.
• Third, tell the participants to take the pictures that represent their leisure/recreational or hobby activities and decide which activities they like the most and which they like the least. Show them the examples of Isabel (annex 3 – page 10). Let them rank their own 3 most favourite and 3 least favourite activities on the template (annex 3- page 11).

Activity 4: What is voluntary work? (annex 4 - 15 minutes)

In this activity participants learn the difference between payed or supported work activities and voluntary work activities.

The activity involves a few closed-ended quiz statements with dichotomous response alternatives. (annex 4).

But first ask the group (or individual) if they know what voluntary work is.  Let them explain to see if they really understand. Maybe refer to the story of Isabel or ask if they now someone who is doing voluntary work.

 Activity 5: Quiz (annex 5 – 30 minutes)

This activity helps participants reflect on the entire retirement process, why people work or have worked, why they cut down on work, what they can do when they retire, … .

This activity involves a PPT describing the stories of four different people (see annex 5). Each slide describes what they did as a job, why they cut down on work or retired, and what they did as activities after they retired.

Describe the activity to the participants and tell them there will be a quiz at the end so they need to concentrate and listen carefully.

Slowly work through the slides, discussing any additional retirement-related information such as age, pace, kind of activities, supports, … .

Activity 6: Type of voluntary work

Start with a recap of the previous activities. Ask the group (or individual) what they remember about the differences between payed work and voluntary work. Also ask them if they remember what Maria, Filip, Anna and Chris did as a volunteer.

• Maria = cafe in an elderly home
• Chris = no voluntary work
• Anna = kinder garden, reading stories to children
• Filip = Animal shelter

In this activity the aim is learn participants about the different types of voluntary work (see annex 2). Using the stories of Maria, Filip, Anna and Chris, questions are to select the correct age group and sector.

Note: In the activity we refer to some common types of voluntary work opportunities. However, in order to support own clients we recommend to only use these examples (or add other examples) that represent the local possibilities for voluntary work.