Rising to the challenge in Greater Manchester

Throughout the pandemic, local Age UKs in Manchester, Oldham, Bolton, Salford, Bury, Wigan, Trafford, Stockport and Tameside have risen to the challenge to deliver essential services to local older people in our communities. We’ve all adapted existing services to make them safe and created new ones – often overnight and unfunded – to meet increased or new demand for support.

Greater Manchester’s Age UKs have been vital to local responses to the many challenges of Covid-19. Across the city-region, we have delivered emergency parcels and made telephone welfare calls in their thousands to local older people. Many relied on this support as it was much more than just a loaf of bread or a weekly telephone call. Local, friendly, familiar Age UK staff would sit at the end of garden paths across Greater Manchester and have a chat with people, showing that they are valued, listened to and not forgotten. That people still care.

There are nearly half a million older people in Greater Manchester and the healthy life expectancy for the region is lower than the national average:

• for men 60 years (versus 63.4)
• for women 60.5 years (versus 64.1), and
• for some localities as low as 55.6 years for both men and women

Too many older people in Greater Manchester are ageing in poor health and Covid-19 has uncovered the previously hidden level of need in our communities.

In a region that has long been at the forefront of social change, this challenging picture of ageing has made it clear that we must do things differently to improve later life in our region and empower people to age well.

As restrictions ease and we return to more normal activities, Greater Manchester’s Age UKs are reflecting on this last 18 months and are planning for a future that ensures the increased awareness of the need for high-quality care, support and opportunities for older people is not forgotten.

Do you want to be part of our collective journey to promote ageing well in Greater Manchester?

Essential to supporting older people to live healthy, active and social lives is strengthening the teams that steer the strategic direction of our local Age UKs. With this in mind, Greater Manchester Age UKs are joining together to encourage community minded neighbours to join one of our nine individual, local boards.

Each partner is seeking individuals who are passionate about their cause, willing and able to devote the necessary time and effort to the organisation, able to think creatively and speak their mind, and willing to take on the responsibilities of these critical roles. Attendance at regular meetings will be important as will contribution to the organisation’s strategic direction.  

People from all ages, backgrounds, professions and ethnicities are encouraged to get in touch. Acting as a Trustee is a brilliant opportunity to ensure the needs of your community are represented in future local service provision.

How do I find out more?

All Greater Manchester Age UKs are joining together by providing an online information session ‘Make a difference: Help us shape the future’ on 28 September – which is also in the run-up to International Day of Older Persons on 1 October.

At the session, you’ll find out more about Greater Manchester’s Age UKs, hear from sitting Trustees and have opportunities to ask any questions you might have.

You can register to attend the event here.

After the event, those who are keen to get involved will be put in touch with their local Age UK to begin direct conversations about becoming a Trustee.

If you’re not able to attend ‘Make a difference: Help us shape the future’ but are still interested in finding out about becoming a Trustee, you can contact us directly here.

Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy later life – wherever you live in Greater Manchester. Access to support, opportunities and local services at every stage of later life is our shared vision.

Be a part of that vision and our journey to support ageing well across Greater Manchester by becoming a trustee.