AN AGE-FRIENDLY TOWN

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Five 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.

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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.

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

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• 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.

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A GLOBAL NETWORK AND VISION

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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).

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In the UK, there are over 60 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.

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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.