Vision, Mission and Values

Age UK Gloucestershire is an independent, local charity that benefits from being part of the national Age UK network. Our vision is for Gloucestershire to be the best county in which to grow older. We want this to be the case for all older people, regardless of their background or circumstance.

We want everyone to approach ageing with confidence, and embrace the opportunities it presents. We recognise that we cannot do this alone. It is the responsibility of the whole county to respond positively to ageing. Achieving our vision will need all elements of our community to contribute.

The number of older people in the county is forecast to grow significantly by 2040. Our mission is to ensure that Gloucestershire will be ready for this change. Our communities will be engaged and recognised as places where everyone can age well.

Our role is to support older people who are experiencing difficulties in later life. We will embrace innovative and impactful new approaches through various projects and services. We will improve the experience of getting older for many more people by focusing on preventative activity. We will work to reduce inequality of experience and inequity of access. To do this we will support our wider community to be positive about later life and respond to the needs of older people.

Relationships - Social connections are powerful. We help people and organisations make meaningful connections.

Every Minute Matters - We value other people’s time and share our own.

Age-Friendly - We celebrate older people and encourage Gloucestershire to be responsive and positive about ageing.

Curiosity - We seek to understand everyone’s unique experience and investigate new ways of working.

Hopeful - We want the best outcomes for everyone. We encourage positivity, purpose and action.

1. The people of Gloucestershire hold positive views about ageing and older people, and reject ageism.

2. Local infrastructure enables all older people to join in with community life, fully and safely.

3. Older people have access to a wide range of meaningful activities in their community that offer fun, connections and a sense of purpose.

4. Local housing, health and care provision responds creatively and positively to the needs of older people.

5. All older people have a place to turn to talk about later life issues and where they can access information, advice and guidance.

1. Drive a new narrative about ageing to encourage people to see it as an important part of the life course.

2. Champion age-friendly communities across Gloucestershire to influence the way places are physically set-up.

3. Establish and support a range of opportunities at community level for people to gain purpose and social networks.

4. Partner with local systems so they work in a more individual and strengths-based way with older people. We will provide casework to support people through times of transition or vulnerability.

5. Be the safe place for people to contact if they don’t know where to turn, where they can receive informed, patient and accessible help to move forward. We will also encourage forward-planning about later life for all.