Northern Soul to Seoul

 Korean-Career!

This month HMR Circle will be hosting a group of researchers from the Population Policy Research Department at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. 
The visitors are interested in how the groundbreaking HMR Circle model for reducing Social Isolation amongst older people has evolved and developed and if the HMR Circle system could possibly be replicated in Korea.
Contact was first made from Korea at the end of 2017 and the discussions have resulted in the researchers coming to the UK and having a face to face meeting.
Despite large cultural differences the problem of social isolation amongst older people is common across cultures and continents. It is hoped the system HMR Circle has evolved and developed could be part of the solution.
The visit from Korea isn't the first overseas visit to HMR Circle, we've previously had visitors arriving from Japan and the USA.


  The interest from Korea also comes on the back of several enquiries closer to home, here in the UK.
It is hoped that the visit will allow HMR Circle to showcase their innovative approaches around social, practical, befriending and transport plus also championing the Rochdale Borough to our International guests.
HMR Circle Director, Mark Wynn said,  'We are really excited by the visit from Korea and very proud that we are making a difference significant enough to be felt overseas as well as nearer to home.We often say we have a Northern Soul, so its apt we maybe looking at taking our Northern Soul to Seoul!"  Leanne Chorlton, Operations Manager here at HMR Circle added "We are obviously pleased for HMR Circle but also for the Rochdale Borough to be showcased as a world leader in reducing social isolation amongst older people."