This report chronicles the work that has happened across Greater Manchester since 2016 towards becoming an age-friendly city region.
Over the past decade, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been a pioneer in the UK for cross-sectoral, participatory, and transformative work to address inequalities in ageing. It was also the first city region in the UK to join the World Health Organisation’s Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities (Greater London and Liverpool City Region have since joined).
Our new report, informed by evidence and evaluation from region-wide work as well as interviews with professionals and local residents involved in age-friendly work, focuses on the period from 2016 to 2025 and illustrates how the ageing agenda has grown alongside the region’s devolution journey, and the impact it has had on systems and individuals.
The report details how establishing the Greater Manchester Ageing Hub in the Combined Authority – a team that works both to deliver programmes and as a convenor for a large local ecosystem of partners across local government, academia, and the voluntary and private sectors – has created the conditions for meaningful change and shared accountability. The policy areas highlighted – tackling ageism, employment, housing, neighbourhoods, health and wellbeing, disparities in ageing, and transport - highlight how the region has embraced age-friendly principles and offers lessons for other places pursuing similar goals. It is also honest about the challenges of making change, and the need for sustained commitment.
You can read more about Ageing Better’s strategic partnership with Greater Manchester here.
