This report describes the multitude of positive impacts Age-friendly Communities are having on the local systems they represent and the older people that live there.
As of February 2025, the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities has over 90 members, representing more than 29 million people, with an estimated 4,277 partners who are taking action to improve the age-friendliness of their area. Over 45 Age-friendly Communities were engaged to develop findings for the report, via a survey, interview, workshops, focus groups, and observation of UK Network weekly peer calls.
The report detailed the five key impacts reported by the UK Network that Age-friendly Communities are having on:
Local systems:
- Creating partnerships that drive local action and build in efficiencies
- Supporting evidence-informed decision-making
- Enabling co-production in policymaking
- Changing policies, mindsets and language
- Embedding and enabling a preventive way of working
Older people and their communities:
- Expanding older people’s access to and use of local spaces
- Expanding older people’s access to support and services
- Increasing older people’s connections to and inclusion in society
- Enhancing older people’s voice, representation and inclusion in decision-making
- Improving older people’s health and wellbeing
The report also describes what is enabling these impacts in communities, including the structured approach set out by the World Health Organisation’s Eight Domains and Four-Step Programme Cycle, and the support offered by the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities.
Five ways the UK Network is enabling impact:
- Connecting people via a network of networks
- Helping individuals feel part of a bigger movement for change
- Accelerating impact through shared ideas and learning
- Boosting engagement and change through high-quality resources
- Building capacity through a tailored, responsive approach
