News / Bristol Ageing Better
‘We need to change perceptions of ageing in Bristol’
Funds totalling £130,000 have been committed to help Bristol achieve its ambition to become the best city to grow old in.
The money will be available in a series of grants to help organisations and businesses overcome current challenges of social isolation, poor accessibility and health inequalities that dictate people in the most deprived areas have lower life expectancy than those in affluent neighbourhoods.
In December, the city was accepted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a member of the Global Network of Age Friendly Communities (GNAFC), but Bristol Ageing Better (BAB) says there is still work to be done.
is needed now More than ever
Bristol was accepted as a member of the Global Network of Age Friendly Communities (GNAFC) in December
The organisation, which helps facilitate projects across the city to help reduce isolation and loneliness in the older population, is making the funds available in a bid to motivate companies to take up the challenge and secure its legacy in the city.
“Our ambition is to make Bristol a brilliant place to grow old in,” said Alan Carpenter chair of Age UK Bristol, speaking at a breakfast meeting in Watershed on Monday morning.
“We should recognise that it’s an investment and opportunity, not a cost and aim to be the best ageing city in the world.”
Carly Urbanski says we need to stop people being looked through
Speaking about the importance of the work, Carly Urbanski, BAB programme manager, told the story of a woman who noticed how people’s attitude changed towards her when she stopped dying her hair and left it grey.
“What we are doing is so important because we need to change the perceptions of ageing,” said Carly. “We need to stop people being looked through.”
BAB’s Age-friendly Bristol Challenge Fund sets out a number of different challenges and invites organisations in the city to help come up with ways of addressing them. These have been compiled in collaboration with older people and stakeholders.
Kathy Baxter speaks about her own experience (picture with volunteer Mike Townsend)
“I have been there, I have been isolated,” said Kathy Baker, a member of the steering group.
“It’s very important to me [the work] – because I know how it feels.”
Ben Barker played a key role in setting up the Bedminster Toilet MaP
Community activist Ben Barker, who set up the Bedminster Toilet Map spoke about some of the work already underway in his neighbourhood to help businesses improve accessibility.
This includes work with students from UWE Bristol, who have been commissioned to design ramps to help facilitate this – with the possibility that pilots could be rolled out across the city if successful.
Under the new fund, a grant of £40,000 will be available for improving buildings and outdoors spaces, with access to toilets, seats and a friendly welcome to older people.
There will be three lots of £20,000 available to help support older people in communities and combat isolation, ensure the elderly know the housing options available to them and provide information on transport.
Grants of £5,000 will be set aside for organisations to improve their service or project and make it more age-friendly.
Adding his support, mayor Marvin Rees said: “I share Bristol Ageing Better’s vision of the city being an inclusive place where everyone feels valued and where people are treated with respect regardless of their age.
The challenge, he said, is to build a city in which people flourish, one that is truly inclusive.
Adam Rees, BAB programme director, added: “The aim of our age friendly work is to consider how we can change the city to be more accessible for older people and by extension everyone.
“These don’t have to all be big changes. Ensuring pavements are free from bins or parked cars makes an older person’s journey easier as it does for disabled people or parents with buggies.”
The Challenge Fund is open to any organisations in Bristol that have a solution to one or more of the age-friendly challenges. Visit: www.bristolageingbetter.org.uk/challenge-fund/ to find out more.
Read more: Bristol named as newest age friendly city
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