Celebrating the power of older people connecting socially to foster a sense of belonging
Each year, on 1 October we mark the International Day of Older People. The theme in the UK this year is “Building Belonging: Celebrating the power of our social connections”. We know how vital it is for people to feel that they belong and this is why the Mayor of London launched the Loved and Wanted campaign – to champion a city where everyone feels included, loved and valued.
It was my pleasure to visit the Belvedere Community Centre, run by Age UK Bexley and meet the residents at the Befriending Café – one of the many cafes that Age UK Bexley hosts across the borough.
In addition, Age UK Bexley hosts Rosemary cafes, tailored to anyone experiencing early signs of dementia or memory loss, to which carers are also welcome. They also host the Men in Sheds service, a community group for retired men over 50 to come together. It was wonderful to hear from residents the invaluable support these cafes provide, along with the strong sense of community and connection they create.
Terry, 82, one of the members of Men in Sheds, said when he lost his wife and completed probate, he found himself stuck indoors with little or no sense of purpose. He had tried a coffee morning group which unfortunately did not meet his needs. And then his daughter suggested Men in Sheds. From the first moment of meeting the Project Manager to today, the group of Shedders has provided essential befriending and camaraderie. This has greatly affected his mental outlook, and he was pleased that he became a member.
We know that being online is a great way to socialise from the comfort of your own home. However, we recognise that not everyone knows how to get online, or how they can use digital tools to connect with others. The cost of getting online can also be a barrier for some people.
We’re grateful to Age UK Bexley and the many local Age UKs who offer support services to help older Londoners overcome some of these challenges. During my meeting with Age UK Bexley’s Mind the Digital Gap service team, I heard how they direct older residents to free mobile connectivity and digital skills training offered by the Digital Inclusion Service.
These services are among the many community-based Digital Inclusion Hubs being supported through Get Online London, a Digital Inclusion Service for Londoners provided in partnership with the Mayor of London, the London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) and the Good Things Foundation.
The staff and beneficiaries of Age UK Bexley’s Gateway Information service provide essential information and advice to many, including to those who are struggling with the cost of living. Each year, Londoners miss out on billions of pounds of unclaimed benefits which could make a real difference to their lives. That’s why the Mayor has a long running campaign to encourage older Londoners to check the help they could be entitled to, including pension credit.
Many local Age UKs have supported these campaigns over the years, boosting our efforts. This has led to older Londoners on low incomes receiving millions in previously unclaimed pension credit. A little bit of extra money can make the difference between being able to go out somewhere to meet others or not.
This Sunday (5 October) is Age UKs Silver Sunday. It was great to hear that Age UK Bexley is working in partnership with the London Borough of Bexley to host an Ageing Well event. It is one of the steps Bexley is taking to become more age-friendly and demonstrate its commitment to building communities where older people feel valued, included, and supported, and where people of all ages can live well and enjoy their lives to the fullest. Bexley has just become the eleventh London borough to be formally recognised as an age-friendly community.
The Mayor is committed to helping London to become the greatest city in the world in which to grow old. He has signed up to the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities and its framework for making a locality more age-friendly. We will be publishing a progress report against the Mayor's action plan for an age-friendly London later this year.We will continue to ensure that older people have a voice in City Hall and are supported and valued.
I know, from visits like these, how much of a difference a borough showing its commitment to making their locality more age-friendly can make to them going on to improve the lives of their older residents. This is why we’re determined to have as many boroughs signed up as possible.
Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard