Age Speaks meets Anna Dixon

The interview covers a broad range of topics from Anna’s upbringing in Yorkshire to her academic and employment background, taking us on the journey which underpins her passion for health and social policy, eventually leading her to the Centre for Ageing Better.

“We’re not just about today’s generation. We’re very much about an ageing society – thinking about those people now in their 40s and 50s who may be at risk of missing out on a good later life. We want to get in early and make a difference to those people.”

The interview covers all aspects of how the Centre for Ageing Better was formed and our early social research project with IPSOS Mori titled, ‘What makes for a good later life?’. Anna also talks in depth about the six different segments of people from ‘thriving boomers’ through to the ‘struggling and alone’ identified in our report,Later life in 2015: An analysis of the views and experiences of people aged 50 and over."

"There are many stereotypes – everyone is lumped together in the media. You’re either a baby boomer, cruising around the world spending loads of money; or you’re stuck in a care home or hospital bed. But it’s a hugely diverse group of people, and it’s about looking at what are the opportunities earlier in their lives to help them.”

A very popular aspect of each Age Speaks programme is the music choices of each contributor; Anna chose ‘Hey Jude’ by The Beatles, because it reminded her of her parents, ‘Handel’s Messiah’ which was her grandmother’s favourite song and ‘The Lark Ascending’ by Vaughan Williams which was played at her wedding.

It was a welcome opportunity for Anna to talk on a wide range of topics, including our partnership with GMCA and our future ambitions, on a like-minded platform.

Listen back to the interview by visiting East London Radio.