South Gloucestershire Age-friendly Strategy
We're excited to share that South Gloucestershire Council is starting work on its Age-friendly Strategy.
Why is the Council doing this?
The Council wants South Gloucestershire to be recognised as an Age-friendly Area by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities was set up in 2010 to help cities and communities make life better for older people. It encourages local action so that older people can fully take part in their community and stay healthy and active.
In South Gloucestershire, this means:
- Making sure older people have a say in their community.
- Helping the Council understand the challenges older people face.
- Identifying the most important issues and opportunities for change.
- Working together to create a practical, Age-friendly Strategy and Action Plan.
Who is involved?
The Council is leading this work, with NDTi's (National Development Team for Inclusion) support. NDTi is a non-profit organisation that helps people live good lives.
Our team at NDTi will be visiting groups, running focus groups, sending out surveys, and listening to as many people as possible. We want to hear your thoughts on how to make South Gloucestershire more Age-friendly.
What will happen next?
Here's what you can expect in the coming months:
· April 2025: We will be sharing a survey, which we would love as many of you as possible to complete, and sharing it through your networks as well.
· May 2025: We will provide various opportunities for people to share their ideas and preferences through focus groups, both online and in person, and offer one-to-one time slot phone calls.
· June 2025: Our team at the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) will analyse all of the responses and begin drafting top actions to be taken forward across South Gloucestershire, sharing the actions back with focus group attendees so that we can confirm that these actions reflect your voice.
· July 2025: Coproduction of an Age-friendly Strategy and Action Plan, and understanding of who in the area will be taking responsibility for each of the different actions.
How and why to get involved
We would love to hear from you, the individuals who are living in the South Glos area. Your voice can make a genuine impact if you take the time to complete the survey below or attend one of the focus groups.
Your voice and opinions will be the foundation of the Age-friendly Strategy and the core of the Action Plan.
Our NDTi team will analyse all the surveys and focus group discussions and turn those into actions that organisations and people across South Glos will be linked to, to action over the coming year. Thank you so much for contributing and making this Strategy fully representative of the people in your area.
Here's how you can take part:
- Survey: Fill it in online or return a paper copy.
- Focus groups: Online via Microsoft Teams
Focus group 1: 28 April 2025: 17:00-18:00
Focus group 2: 28 April 2025: 18:00-19:00
Focus group 3: 30 April 2025: 13:30-15:00
Focus group 4: 30 April 2025: 17:00-18:0
Focus group 5: 30 April 2025: 18:00-19:00 - Focus groups: In-person
Focus group 1: 29 April 2025: 10:00-11:30, Lincombe Barn, Downend, BS16 2RW
Focus group 2: 29 April 2025: 13:30-15:00, Poole Court, Yate Town Offices, Yate, BS37 5PP
Focus group 3: 6 May 2025: 12:00-13:30, The Park Centre, High Street, Kingswood, BS15 4AR
Focus group 4: 7 May 2025: 10:00-11:30, Turnberries Community Centre, Turnberries Bath Road, Thornbury, BS35 2BB
Focus group 5: 7 May 2025: 12:30-14:00, Little Stoke Community Hall, Little Stoke Lane, BS34 6HR
- One-to-one phone calls: If focus groups or surveys aren't for you, email us, and we'll arrange a call.
Please email us at equallives@ndti.org.uk
We look forward to hearing your thoughts and working together to improve services for older people in South Gloucestershire!
Meet our team: Lyn, Kate, Carly & Rebecca
