Salford is celebrating ten years as a recognised World Health Organisation (WHO) Age Friendly City, marking a decade of working together to make the city a great place to grow older.
The milestone was celebrated at a special International Day of Older Persons conference on 1 October, organised by Age Friendly Salford. The event brought together older residents, community organisations, health and care partners, local services and council representatives to reflect on the city’s achievements and explore new ways to support people to live well as they age.
Around 100 people attended the event, including Director of Public Health for Salford, May Moonan, and Councillor Jane Hamilton. Attendees heard inspiring stories from local organisations making a real difference in the lives of older people, took part in interactive workshops and joined discussions focused on healthy ageing, reducing inequalities and strengthening community connections.
Councillor Tracy Kelly, Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “We’re proud to celebrate ten years of Salford being recognised as an Age Friendly City. Over the past decade, this achievement has brought the council, local organisations and communities together with a shared goal of helping older people live healthy, active and fulfilling lives.
“Through support services, community activities and better access to information, more older residents are staying independent, connected and involved in the things that matter to them. While we’re proud of how far we’ve come, we know there is more to do, and we’re committed to building on this success to make Salford an even better place to grow older.”
Mike Duddy, CEO Inspiring Communities Together, said: “This event was a chance to celebrate ten years of progress and the difference that partnership working has made for older people across Salford. It also gave us the opportunity to look ahead and explore how we can continue working together to make our city an even better place to grow older. By working together, we can create communities where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to live well, contribute and thrive at every stage of life.”
The conference showcased some of the innovative age-friendly work taking place across the city and celebrated the vital role older people play in their communities. It also created opportunities for residents and organisations to learn from one another, build relationships and shape future priorities together.
Age Friendly Salford is dedicated to ensuring older residents have a strong voice in decisions that affect their lives, can easily access the support and services they need, and continue to be valued, connected and active members of their communities.
As Salford looks ahead to the next decade, the city remains committed to creating communities where people of all ages can thrive, and where growing older is recognised as an opportunity to stay involved, contribute and live life to the fullest.
There are four Age Friendly visions. These themes relate to the eight WHO Age Friendly domains.
- Vision 1 Older people are able to feel safe and travel to places which help keep them healthy and engaged
- Vision 2 Older people are able to find information and services to keep healthy and engaged in activities
- Vision 3 Older people are respected and included in neighbourhood activities to keep them healthy and engaged
- Vision 4 Older are able to find opportunities for paid and unpaid work, as well as ensure their voice is heard to keep them healthy and engaged.
Find out more about all the projects and work being highlighted for the Age Friendly City tenth anniversary here: https://www.salford.gov.uk/
For more information about the work of Age Friendly Salford visit: agefriendlysalford.org.uk
Pictured: Director of Public Health for Salford, May Moonan; Programme Lead (Age Friendly Salford) at Inspiring Communities Together, Antonia Dunn; Salford CVS Chief Executive, Alison Page
