Learning and sharing: Coming together to celebrate Age-friendly Communities
At the end of last month, Age-friendly Community members from across the country came together for another successful UK Network of Age-friendly Communities Conference.
Rebecca Lines, our Age-friendly Communities Learning Officer, reflects how the annual in-person gathering at the Centre for Ageing Better organised annual conference builds and strengthens the connections made throughout the year on the network’s weekly online peer calls.
In the final session of this year’s UK Network of Age-friendly Communities conference, Helena Herklots, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, left us with these fitting words:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Hosted at City Hall by Age-friendly London, this year’s two day in-person event saw more than 80 delegates from 53 localities come together to be inspired, connected and supported in their work to make their communities better places to age.
The UK Network of Age-friendly Communities is a collective; we learn and we share.
In the wake of the Chief Medical Officer’s report on healthy ageing and some stark findings in our own State of Ageing 2023-24 report about inequalities faced by people ageing across the country today, the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities Conference provided a space for colleagues to come together to share the critical work that’s happening on the ground, to improve the lives of older people now and in the future.
The Greater London Authority’s City Hall headquarters are in Newham, the most diverse borough in the capital, and so it was fitting that we started the first day with a panel exploring how Age-friendly Communities can consider the needs and perspectives of different groups of older adults, and work to address inequalities within their own communities.
The agenda went on to feature opportunities to build and strengthen relationships between network members, panels and workshops covering a range of topics pertinent to the ageing agenda, before the launch of the State of Ageing 2023 with a keynote speech by Professor Sir Michael Marmot.
There should be a national strategy for ageing better…but my hope is that enough cities and regions will take the action that’s needed that in the end the politicians in Westminster will follow. They’ll have to. They’ll get left behind otherwise.
Workshops throughout the second day saw the cross-pollination of good practice and practical solutions; on aligning with Dementia friendly communities, strengthening relationships with health partners, age-friendly for all ages and more. For many, it was reassuring to hear that their local challenges weren’t unique – and to meet with others that were eager to share their insights and learning.
Post-it notes and overheard conversations fizzed with accounts of innovations and ideas to improve lives and communities; whether through Pension Credit awareness campaigns, inspiring outreach activities, imagination playgrounds, or age-friendly petrol stations.
One thing that stood out for me was the level of commitment and passion across the UK Network.
The conference’s second plenary panel featured Helena Herklots (Older People’s Commissioner for Wales) and Paul McGarry (Greater Manchester Ageing Hub), alongside Age-friendly Nottingham Steering Group member Eunice Campbell-Clark, and World Health Organization Technical Officer Thiago Hérick de Sá.
With years of experience between them, experts in the field reminded us of how far the age-friendly movement has come in the fifteen years since the Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities launched, as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead.
We need to celebrate this and continue the good work. There is much more we can achieve.