Dorset becomes the 100th Age-friendly Community

The network covers a population of more than 10.5 million people aged 50 and over – a figure larger than the entire population of Greece.  

The Centre for Ageing Better works with Age-friendly communities to provide guidance, connect places and offer support to member communities as they work towards making their services and infrastructure more age-friendly.  

The Age-friendly Communities approach was developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2007, in consultation with older people around the globe.  

Its growth has been based on the evidence of what supports a healthy and active ageing in a location – and what supports older residents to influence where they live.  

Local groups, leaders, councils, businesses, and older residents work together to identify and make changes in both the physical and social environments. This includes improving transport, outdoor spaces, volunteering and employment, leisure, and community services.

In 2012, Manchester took the initiative in establishing a UK Network, in partnership with other early adopter cities including Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Belfast.  

The Age-friendly Community network is focused on collaboration with more than 4,500 partners taking action to make their communities more age-friendly across the UK.  

Its approach creates and supports a wide range of benefits and impacts for older people and their communities, ensuring everyone can age well.  

All the UK members (100%) reported one or more impacts for older people, and 91% reported older people had improved inclusion and choice in decisions that affect them and their community.  

A further 93% reported improved social connection and participation in activities for older people and 90% reported improved health and healthy behaviours, including reduction in falls for older people.

Dorset officially became a member on 24 September, alongside North Tyneside and the London Borough of Bexley. The event was celebrated with a cake cutting ceremony involving Councillor Steve Robinson, Dorset Council Adult Social Care Portfolio lead with representatives from the voluntary sector, including Age UK, Help and Kindness, Volunteer Centre Dorset as well as the Dorset Integrated Care Board. 

The county has one of the oldest populations of any UK county, with 30% of its residents over 60, compared to an average of 19% nationally. And by becoming an Age-friendly Community, Dorset will be in much better position to enable its older population to age well and live a good later life.  

Natalie Turner, Deputy Director for Localities at the Centre for Ageing Better, said:

“Dorset gains by becoming an Age-friendly Community by being part of a wider structure. The WHO Age-friendly Communities Framework is an evidence-based, globally-recognised approach for creating communities that are better places to grow older.

“And the Centre for Ageing Better will work with the county to provide guidance and connect it with other places to share learning in its efforts to become more age friendly.

“All the Age-friendly Communities work to support people to remain active and more connected for longer. This supports better health outcomes, and less reliance on critical and crisis responses.

“We encourage other places in the UK to follows in Dorset’s footsteps. By becoming an Age-friendly Community, an area is showing a demonstrable commitment to its population and acknowledging that the needs of older populations must be recognised and understood.”

Councillor Robinson said he wanted residents, the voluntary sector and businesses to help shape Age Friendly Dorset, adding that the council would be launching a survey in the next few days: 

“We want to hear from residents, so we are reaching across Dorset to listen to older people’s experiences to see what’s working, what could be better and what do people want for the future. Your voice will help shape a county-wide communities plan, guiding our next steps.”

Paula Bennetts, Dorset VCSA Programme Director, added:

We’re committed to working alongside Dorset Council, the Integrated Care Board, and our sector partners to co-design solutions that reflect lived experience, promote wellbeing, and foster meaningful participation. Together, we can build a county where ageing is celebrated, and every individual feels connected, valued, and empowered.”

If you are interested in becoming an Age-friendly Community, or learning more about how the network operates, visit here.