top of page

AN AGE-FRIENDLY TOWN

Six years on from the launch event in 2018, Age Friendly Banbury is strengthening its commitment to making Banbury become one of Britain’s first age-friendly towns.

An age-friendly town encompasses both the built environment, such as housing, transport and outdoor spaces, and the social environment, such as health and information services, civic participation and social activities. In practice, age-friendly social action could include anything from befriending and activity clubs, to ‘men in sheds’ or community-owned pubs. By offering a joined-up approach to social action specific to Banbury, it is hoped that older people will have more opportunities to flourish.

Building on comments and feedback received from local people, Age Friendly Banbury will focus on the following priorities:

  • Getting About – improving access to transport to help people get out and about and reduce worries about isolation and accessing basic services and shops

  • Wellbeing and Community Services – improving access to services and support to help people be as healthy as possible

  • Town Centre – taking action to make the town centre more age friendly, specifically by increasing seating and public toilets around the town centre, and encouraging local businesses to think about being more age friendly by adopting our Age Friendly Pledge

  • Getting Connected – increasing the range and accessibility of activities to tackle isolation and loneliness, providing more opportunities for people to get together, and providing information so people know what’s going on.

A GLOBAL NETWORK AND VISION

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), by 2050 there will be more

people over 60 than under 14 for the first time in human history. It is expected that

the majority will live in urban areas, so the WHO is supporting age-friendly initiatives

in towns and cities across the world. The Age Friendly Banbury partnership is using

the WHO model to join 1333 places from Derry to Dallas, in 47 countries, forming the

Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC).

In the UK, there are over 75 age-friendly cities, towns, districts and counties working

together to share learning and promote age-friendly practices. On 3 August 2020 the

Decade of Healthy Ageing proposal was adopted by the 73rd World Health Assembly.

 

Its vision for 2030 is: A world in which everyone can live a long and healthy life.

Banbury as part of the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities will contribute by:

  • Ensuring that active and healthy ageing is seen as everybody’s business by building relationships, learning and collaboration across sectors, services and between generations.

  • Ensuring that all older people are respected, listened to, and can contribute to decision making in the communities that they live.

  • Embracing the diversity of older people, addressing inequalities and ageism, building more equitable places for us all to age in.

  • Advocating for the physical infrastructure that meets the needs and aspirations of older people, including digital, housing, transport and public spaces.

Read the latest news and insight from the Centre for Ageing Better – a key partner of the Age-friendly Communities.

 

AGE FRIENDLY BANBURY LEADERSHIP GROUP

The Age Friendly Banbury Partnership project is directed by a Leadership Group of core partners which meets 6 times a year under the Chairmanship of Sir Tony Baldry, DL, High Steward of Banbury. The LG comprises representatives of Age UK Oxfordshire, Cherwell District Council, Banbury Town Council, Banbury Community Action Group, Citizens Advice West Northants and Cherwell, Oxford United in the Community, and The Royal Voluntary Service.

WHO 8 domains of age friendly communities
Age UK Oxfordshire logo
Banbury Community Action Group logo
Cherwell District Council logo
Banbury Town Council logo
Citizens Advice logo

AGE FRIENDLY BANBURY PARTNERS

High Steward of Banbury logo
Royal Voluntary Service logo

Age Friendly Banbury partners are a diverse group of organisations, businesses, charities, and groups who are committed to making Banbury a great place to grow older by working together to deliver services, and activities and share knowledge and information which will benefit Banbury’s older residents.

We welcome everyone who shares these ambitions to join the partnership which includes all of the Leadership Group organisations above plus: Volunteer Connect, OCVA, Sanctuary, Parkinson's, TVP, StyleAcre, ARCh, Banbury Talking Newspapers, Dementia Active, Banbury BID, BCOC, Healthwatch, Banbury Mosque, Banbury United Football Club, Wild Banbury, RAFA, Sunrise Multicultural Centre, The Sunshine Centre, The Hill Community Centre, Grimsbury Community Centre, Longford Park Community Centre, Bridge Street Community Garden, Banbury Library, Oxfordshire MIND, Talking Space Plus, OSJCT Larkrise Care Home

Home Instead logo
Oxfordshire Community Foundation logo
Livewell Oxfordshire logo
Centre for Ageing Better logo
The Mill Arts Centre logo
Age of Creativity logo
Banbury and Bicester College logo
St Marys Church Banbury logo
Banburyshire Advice Service logo
Action for Carers Oxfordshire logo
University of Northampton logo
Dementia Oxfordshire logo
Volunteer link up logo
Katherine House Hospice logo
MyVisionOxfordshire logo
Oxfordshire County Council logo
Chaplaincy for Banbury logo
Community First Oxon logo
Banbury Guardian logo
Dementia Active logo
Multiple Sclerosis Society logo
OXON Mind logo
Healthwatch Oxfordshire logo
RAF Associations Banbury logo
OCVA logo
Thames Valley Police logo
BanburyBID Logo
Sanctuary Housing logo
Trust On Tap Logo
Trust On Tap Logo
bottom of page